TOM Craddock will return to Oxford United next season after signing a two-year deal with League Two rivals Portsmouth.

The 26-year-old scored 12 goals to finish as the U's second highest scorer this season, but was among a dozen players released earlier this month.

Craddock, who hit 28 goals in three seasons at United, said: "It excites me greatly that, if we are doing well, we are likely to be playing in front of 15,000-plus crowds, which is phenomenal for League Two and just about sums the club up.

"Obviously the manager has brought me down to score goals. I’ve pretty much done that regularly and hopefully I can bring them here as well.

"I’m a player who has got every faith in my ability to do just that – if I don't believe then nobody else will."

Pompey boss Guy Whittingham added: "If you want to be promoted from one league to another then you have to bring in goalscorers and that’s what we have got with Tom."