ROB Hall is on a mission to repay Oxford United’s faith in him after signing a two-year contract while recovering from a serious knee injury.

The 22-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while training on loan with MK Dons in April.

If all goes well the versatile forward is tentatively scheduled to return in about three months.

It has been a testing few weeks since he was released by parent club Bolton Wanderers, so getting the call from United – where he netted six goals in 12 starts on loan spell in 2011 – was a huge boost.

He said: “I went from playing regularly at MK and being in a strong position going into a free transfer, to doing my cruciate and being in possibly the worst position I’ve been in during my career.

“For Oxford to have faith in me during this injury was massively key to me coming.

“Hopefully, when I get back out there I can have a similar impact to my first spell.

“I would say I hope everyone is patient with me, because it’s quite a difficult injury to get through.

“I’m confident this is the best place for me to do it.”

Witney Gazette:

  • Rob Hall celebrates scoring during his first spell at Oxford United, in 2011

United view the former West Ham trainee as a replacement for Callum O’Dowda, who transferred to Bristol City last Thursday.

While signing a player who will miss a chunk of the new season will be viewed by some as risky, head coach Michael Appleton sees it differently.

Hall has spent the vast majority of his career playing in the Championship, and if fully fit he would have been out of their league financially this summer.

The injury has seen the Aylesbury attacker accept a significant pay cut to join the U’s.

Appleton, who suffered a serious knee injury himself, said: “Nowadays as long as cruciate injuries are isolated, which it is as far as we’re aware, then I don’t see it as a gamble at all.

“I think in life if there’s an opportunity that comes with the type of quality Rob has, then sometimes you have to take it.

“You don’t turn opportunities down if you can bring young, exciting players to your club.”