SIMON Hackney has joined League Two side Oxford United on loan until the end of the season.

The left-winger has made just two substitute appearances for Colchester United this season so instead will now try and help a different U’s push towards promotion.

Oxford, having only just been promoted back to the Football League, are chasing a second successive promotion. They are currently ninth in the table and just a point off the play-off places.

Hackney could now make his Oxford debut at Colchester’s Essex rivals Southend on Saturday – his 27th birthday.

The Manchester-born winger started his career in the lower reaches of non-league before signing for Carlisle United – then a Conference club – in 2005.

The Cumbrians were promoted to the Football League in his first season there and Hackney then helped them get promoted once again in 2005/06.

After scoring 17 goals in 114 appearances for Carlisle, Hackney was brought to Colchester by Paul Lambert for a reported six figure sum in the January transfer window of 2009.

The direct-running wideman was a regular under the Scotsman and enjoyed an excellent start to his first full season at the club when providing three assists in the opening day 7-1 demolition of Norwich City.

He fell out of favour somewhat after Lambert made the switch to Norwich and Aidy Boothroyd took over at The Weston Homes Community Stadium though. And after being limited to brief cameo appearances off the bench, Hackney spent two months on loan at League Two side Morecambe towards the end of last season.

Despite John Ward replacing Boothroyd as manager last summer, Hackney has once again found himself on the fringes this season – partly due to injury – and it now looks increasingly unlikely that he will be offered a new deal at the club when his contract expires this summer.

“This is a good move for Simon,” said Colchester manager John Ward.

“He has been injured or out of the squad since Christmas and the team shape has developed without him in that time.

“He needs to go out and play somewhere and I am pleased for him that Oxford have come in and offered him this opportunity.

“Simon will be a good asset for them, they’re just outside of the top seven at the moment and he could help them break into those play-off places.”