Oxford United have signed Charlton Athletic defender Tareiq Holmes-Dennis on an initial one-month loan.

The 18-year-old left-back progressed through the Addicks’ youth set up and has become an integral part of the Championship side’s Under-21 team.

Holmes-Dennis, who has been at The Valley since he was nine-years-old, has yet to make his first-team debut for Charlton, although the club handed him a three year professional contract last October.

Having also represented England at Under-18 level, Us boss Michael Appleton was delighted with his latest addition: “Something I’ve been trying to do for a while is to get a lot of competition in all the areas of the squad to rule out an complacency.

“Tareiq will give us lots of energy, a lot of people in the game that I’ve spoken to speak very highly of the kid.”

The young defender was also excited: “I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I have heard a lot about the way Oxford like to play football and I want to come in, train hard and hopefully play as many first team games as I can.

“I have been at Charlton a long time now and coming to Oxford is a chance to further my football education at a really good club.”

Holmes-Dennis is eligible to make his Oxford debut when the Yellows welcome Tranmere Rovers to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday for League Two’s battle of the bottom two.