"I would hope" - Oxford United supporters urged to change stance on potential Cardiff City reunion | OneFootball

FLW's Oxford United fan pundit has been discussing the club's reported interest in Cardiff City star Callum O'Dowda.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Oxford United have been told to consider other options before securing a deal for Cardiff City’s Callum O’Dowda.

The 30-year-old is facing an uncertain future after the Bluebirds were relegated to League One, and he has already been linked with a move back to the Championship.

It has been claimed that Oxford are tracking the Irishman, whilst Hull are also thought to be admirers.

O'Dowda is an Oxford United academy graduate, and so the U's could well have the upper hand with a full-circle sales pitch to the Republic of Ireland international.

Callum O’Dowda verdict given as return to Oxford United an option

So, there could be a battle for O’Dowda’s signature this summer, and the ex-Bristol City man would provide Gary Rowett with another experienced option in the squad if they do bring him in.

Yet, when quizzed by FLW about the possibility of bringing O’Dowda back to the club, our U's fan pundit, Luke Nigel, explained that whilst the left-footer could be a decent addition due to the qualities he has, he shouldn’t be a priority addition.

“When he left Oxford, it did not go down very well with the fanbase. However, looking at this move nine years on, I would hope supporters could see it from a pure footballing view, and see that it’s probably not the worst transfer.

“He has gone on to prove himself to be a very solid Championship player, and someone Gary Rowett would like in his system due to his athleticism, and he is very versatile.

“At 30, and with Cardiff relegated, I think the fee required will be a small one, but they’d push to get someone who captained the side and ended the season as one of their better performers.

“I don’t think O’Dowda is a clear improvement down the left flank, but he does offer us more versatility in-game. I would like to see us push for a winger of a higher standard if he was going to come in to start.

"But, later in the window, if we have a bit of budget left over, I wouldn’t mind him returning to be a squad player.”

Callum O’Dowda is a proven Championship player

You can understand why O’Dowda wouldn’t be the most exciting signing, but he is a reliable player who could be vital to a club like Oxford over the course of the season.

As mentioned, he is versatile, which is a real positive, as he can play in either position down the left flank, and even in the middle if necessary.

Every squad needs a player like that, and he brings a physicality that means he can more than hold his own in the Championship.

Of course, we don’t know what sort of fee Cardiff would want for O’Dowda, and he is under contract for a few more years, so the price will play a big factor in whether it’s a worthwhile deal.