Uruguayan defender Mateo Corbo has now signed a professional contract with Oxford until the end of the season, following a brief trial period. Corbo has played for Oviedo, River Plate (not that one, a Uruguay version) and, most exotic of all, Barnsley. He holds a joint Uruguayan/Italian passport, so he isn’t subject to any bizarre work permit restrictions, and becomes the first Latin American player ever on Oxford’s books.

Corbo’s first appearance for the Us was this afternoon, playing for the reserves in the first half of their 4-0 home defeat by Reading. This was a dreadful performance from United, who also featured Terry Parker at left back, Rob Wolleaston, Mark E’Beyer and Mark Rawle in midfield, and Doudou and Danny Morgan up front. Tom Winters also played his first game since his injury and appendicitis, two months ago, but apart from one tame long-range shot he didn’t really shine. To be fair to United the Court Place Farm pitch was terrible and certainly didn’t encourage a passing game, which is presumably the excuse for all the hoofing that took place.

In addition to the above Oxford also had Stuart Brock in goal. Brock was released by Kidderminster at the end of last season and is presumably being looked at as short-term cover while Bradie Clark and Simon Cox are both recovering from shoulder injuries. At half-time Corbo was replaced by triallist Iyad Ahmed, an Iraqi refugee who was a full-time Academy player at Tottenham, and who plays up front or on the wing.