Gary Rowett was sacked on Tuesday with Oxford United struggling in the Championship

Liam Manning has been installed as the early favourite to return to Oxford United as head coach.

The 40-year-old was sacked by Norwich City last month after going on a 11-game winless run, having only taken over at his hometown club in the summer from Bristol City.

Manning came within a point of winning promotion to the Championship with MK Dons in 2021/22, missing out to Rotherham United on the final day of the season, led by now Dons boss Paul Warne.

After losing his job at Stadium MK the following season, Manning rescued Oxford United from the drop to League Two while his former club went down. Setting the U’s on course to go up the following year, Manning departed for Bristol City, leading them to their first Championship play-off campaign in nearly two decades.

In his absence, Oxford secured promotion to the Championship but have struggled so far this term, sacking Gary Rowett with the club in the relegation zone, winning just one in their last ten.

Former Oxford manager Michael Beale was initially the early favourite to take over at the Kassam Stadium, but Manning has since taken over at the front-runner to return, now installed at 7/4 by BetVictor.