WIMBORNE Town boss Matty Holmes described as “a great benefit” the return of linchpin defender Matt Oldring.

The influential centre-half has agreed a deal to re-join Magpies while balancing his studies at Leeds Beckett University.

Oldring is set to journey by plane from Yorkshire to join up with his Wimborne team-mates on matchdays and is poised to return for Saturday’s Southern League South clash at home to Beaconsfield (3pm).

Manager Holmes told the Daily Echo: “We have re-signed Matty and he will be back in the squad. It’s like having a great new signing.

“He was desperate to come back to us but we weren’t too sure how it would work.

“He is going to be playing and training at Leeds in the week and come down and play for us on weekends.

“It’s a big coup because the lads love him. He is a huge character for us and gives us that extra quality in the squad we need. I think it is going to be a great benefit to the football club.”

Oldring played 47 times in all competitions last season, scoring eight goals to help Magpies finish third in Southern League West, as well as lift the Dorset Senior Cup.

Signed from Dorchester following his release form the Avenue in March 2017, the Wimborne ace is currently studying for a degree in Primary Education.

“The lads look up to Matty. When he left Dorchester it was a bit of a shock. They let him go, he came to us and look what we did once he signed,” added Holmes.

“He is a big influence. He has scored goals for us and even played with a broken nose in a couple of games. That is just the character he is.

“We have now seen his schedule. I am in touch with his football coordinator up in Leeds to make sure he is training and doing the right things. He will most probably be fitter than he was last season to be honest!

“The flights are perfect for him. I think it’s 35 minutes into Southampton and then it’s just up the road – it’s not like he has to do a huge amount of travelling really.”

Wimborne are also set to be boosted by the return of star striker Toby Holmes against Beaconsfield, who are 16th in the table with seven points from as many games.

Holmes, whose side have just four points to their name this season, added: “It’s going to be a big month coming up for us. We have to go into it and enjoy the season.

“The lads have to embrace it and be positive. The way we have been playing, things have got to turn.”

Paddy Hester and Will Prior remain the only long-term absentees for Magpies.