ADAM McDonnell, who scored Aldershot Town’s winner at Leyton Orient last weekend, has rejoined the club on a permanent deal from Ipswich until the end of the 2018-19 season.

The 20-year-old midfielder signed on loan in August, but was recalled by Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy in December.

A former Republic of Ireland U19 international, McDonnell previously made three appearances for Ipswich’s first team in 2017-18, including playing the full 90 minutes of the Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace earlier this season. He has also made two substitute appearances in the Championship this season, to add to two starts made in the 2015-16 season.

Born in Dunboyne, near Dublin, McDonnell graduated from the schoolboy section of League of Ireland side Shelbourne before joining Ipswich in August 2014, and then signed a new two-year contract at Portman Road in July 2016.

“Being here has made me a better player and will help me fulfil my potential,” said McDonnell. “Gary Waddock and James Rowe have put a lot of trust in me, and with the way that we play I’d be stupid not to come back here.

“I wasn’t getting the game time I needed at Ipswich to make me a better player, so sometimes you have to come down to go back up.”

McDonnell is the fourth signing to be made with assistance from Aldershot’s 500 Club, in which supporters donate funds to Gary Waddock’s playing budget in a unique ‘money-back-and-more’ incentive designed to help the Shots win promotion back to the Football League.

Aldershot have also signed former Luton winger Josh McQuoid until the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Northern Ireland international, who can also play as a striker, ended a loan spell at Torquay last month, having played against Aldershot on December 2. He recently featured for the Hatters in their Checkatrade Trophy tie against Peterborough. He has scored eight goals in 45 games for Luton.

McQuoid, who made his senior debut with AFC Bournemouth in 2007, has made over 270 career appearances, including 37 in the Championship, and was joint top scorer for the Cherries in League One in 2010-11 with 12 goals from just 18 appearances. This form earned him five caps for Northern Ireland in 2010 and 2011.

The Southampton-born winger has also played for Millwall, who paid £550,000 for his services, Burnley, Peterborough – for whom he scored in a Football League Trophy Final victory at Wembley – Coventry and Stevenage.

Aldershot announced on Wednesday that on-loan Ipswich defender George Fowler has also signed a permanent contract until the end of the 2018-19 season. Fowler, 20, has made 22 appearances for the Shots since joining in August and was voted Player of the Month for December.