TYRONE Barnett insisted he was always interested in joining Oxford United as a loan deal went through yesterday – a week after a move collapsed on transfer deadline day.

The 28-year-old agreed a 93-day switch from Peterborough and could make his debut at Exeter City on Saturday.

It revived a deal which had been on the verge of completion last week, only for the proposed season-long loan arrangement to come grinding to a halt.

Barnett, who joined Peterborough for £1.2m in 2012, revealed it did not happen because he was also weighing up a transfer to another club.

But when nothing was agreed before the window shut, United became the front-runners when the loan market opened.

He said: “At that moment my aim was to get a permanent move away from Peterborough.

“I was very interested initially to come here, even though it was a loan move.

“The chance to work with Michael Appleton, that sold the club to me.

“It was only because there was a permanent move on the table that I didn’t come.

“When that didn’t happen this was my first choice, even though there were a few others that wanted to take me on loan.

“I wanted to come here.”

Barnett is keen to leave Peterborough on a permanent basis, but does not know whether his future at United will extend beyond the initial loan.

“I’ve signed for three months, whatever happens after that, I will address when it comes,” he said.

“At the moment it’s a loan and I want to do well.

“Whether that means staying here, or moving on, I’m open-minded.

“I just want to play football.”

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.