FORMER Swindon Town midfielder Keith O'Halloran is to return to his native Ireland on a permanent basis.

The injury-plagued 28-year-old had been plying his trade at non-league Chippenham Town as he bids to fully recover from a shattered right leg that kept him sidelined for the best part of two years.

He had also been training with his old teammates at the County Ground and playing in Town reserve matches.

But O'Halloran has failed to rediscover the form that saw him capped at under 21 level for the Republic of Ireland and has decided to make a fresh start in his homeland.

Two top Irish clubs are rumoured to be interested in the ex-Middlesbrough man and O'Halloran hopes he can earn a contract and return to the peak of his powers.

"I wanted a change of scene," he said.

"My wife is Irish and all my family are over there so it made sense to go back.

"The leg is 100 per cent now I just need games to build my overall fitness.

"It's getting better all the time so hopefully I can get a club in Ireland and get back to my best.

O'Halloran who jetted back to Dublin yesterday added: "I don't want to say too much but there are a couple of clubs expressing an interest.

"I'd like to sign for one of the big Dublin clubs I'd say the top flight in Ireland is the equivalent to the second or third division over here."

O'Halloran started his career at the Riverside Stadium where he made four first-team appearances before spending three years in Scotland with St Johnstone.

Colin Todd brought him to the County Ground in July 2000 and the set-piece specialist went on to make 46 appearances in little more than a season's active service, scoring seven goals.

But O'Halloran's Town career was cut short after a collision with Bournemouth's Wade Elliot on September 8, 2001 that left him with a fractured fibula and tibula.