Skipper Jim Magilton is again being linked with a coaching role at former club Oxford United. Ex-Blue Brian Talbot, spotted watching Town's reserves against Watford on Monday, was sacked as U's boss on Tuesday.

According to reports, Magilton is being lined-up to be assistant to new boss Darren Patterson while continuing his playing career.

The Northern Irishman, whose contract with Town is up at the end of the season, is keen to get into coaching when his playing career ends but hopes to carry on as a player for the next couple of seasons while progressing his off-field ambitions.

However, Magilton and his family are understood to want to return to the North-West from where his wife hails and where the 36-year-old midfielder started his career with Liverpool.

This isn't the first time Magilton has been linked with a coaching job at the club he played for between 1990 and 1994. In 2004 reports claimed he was set to become manager at the Kassam Stadium.

Last summer Magilton was offered a player-coach role at Bristol Rovers, then managed by former Oxford boss and another Town skipper Ian Atkins.

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