OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder admits his moves in the transfer market have all been with one eye on the future.

Latest capture Simon Clist was set to make his United debut at Kettering on Saturday, and Wilder says the left-footed midfielder's versatility was something that counted in his favour when looking for new faces.

The U's boss has been looking at next season as well as what he calls “the long shot” of still trying to reach the play-offs in this campaign, and all of his signings since he took over just before Christmas have reflected that.

“I've seen quite a lot of Simon and I've always liked him,” Wilder said.

“Of all the signings, he's my first one to move to us permanently.

“Damien Batt, Shane Killock and Craig Nelthorpe have all come here on a short-term with a view to long-term deals, while Adam Chapman has come from a Championship club on a short-term deal.

“Craig Farrell is short term but with the option that, if he does well, it could become longer term.

“All those boys have got something to prove.

“I don't want us to get too carried away. The way it's going, and the run we're on, it's going great, but we have to be realistic and it's still going to be a difficult task to reach the play-offs. So we've got to keep the hammer down with the games coming up.

“We've been on a fantastic run, but we're outsiders. However, I'm pleased that we've got ourselves into this position where there's a glimmer of hope and it's exciting.

“With all of my previous signings (before Clist) I'm looking to give the boys a chance to earn something for next year, and one thing I'd made my mind up about is that the squad I'm trying to assemble will be flexible.

“Simon Clist is principally a central midfielder, but he can also play wide, Muzza (Adam Murray) can play in a two or a three in the middle, or as he's shown, just behind the main striker, Adam Chapman can play at right back or in midfield, and so on.

“What I want to have, ideally, are centre halves who I know are strong and dependable and central midfielders who are the same, but with my front four, I'll be changing them around.

“My squad next year won't be 11 players who know how to play 4-4-2, it'll be 18 players who can play in different ways, maybe sometimes three centre halves, maybe 3-4-3 or 4-5-1, and the players need to be flexible.

“When I came in through the door, that was a surprise to me, that we had a lot of players rigid in what they could do.

“So what I'll be looking for is 16, 17 or 18 players all putting pressure on each other.”

Wilder may be ready to inter-change his front four – essentially the two strikers and two wingers – in coming games.

He said: “There'll be occasions when Yemi (Odubade) starts and Lewis Haldane drops to the bench, and then the next game it's the other way around. I'll look at every game on its own merits.”