Oxford United's search for goalkeeping back-up has taken them far and wide, but they are also looking at one right on their doorstep - Oxford City's Alan Foster.

The 24-year-old goalkeeper, who arrived at Court Place Farm from North Leigh, greatly impressed during City's famous FA Cup run last season when second division Wycombe Wanderers needed three attempts to knock them out.

United manager Denis Smith has worked out a list of around half a dozen potential replacements for South African Andre Arendse and the giant Swede Paul Lundin, both of whom have returned to their homeland.

But no decision will be made on who comes in as the U's No 2 keeper, behind Richard Knight, until Smith returns from his holiday next week. Also on his list is believed to be veteran Nigel Spink, the 39-year-old former Aston Villa goalkeeper who played a few times for Millwall last season.

"There's no immediate rush," said Smith's assistant Mickey Lewis. "We've gone wide in our thinking about who to bring in, and it ranges from someone young and inexperienced who we believe would do a good job, to someone with great experience who hasn't yet got fixed up with a contract. I've seen Alan Foster a few times and he looks a good goalkeeper. He's very highly thought of. There's no need to panic or rush, just so long as we have someone for the start of the season, and there are plenty of experienced keepers out there."

Wimbledon and QPR monitored Foster last season, but a possible stumbling block to him making the short switch from City to United would be if City want a fee for him.

All United's transfers so far this summer have been 'frees' under the Bosman ruling.