Oxford United’s legendary goalkeeping coach Alan Hodgkinson is tipping Chris Wilder to go on and become one of English football’s top managers.

Ex-England keeper Hodgy, who has worked and coached at Manchester United, Scotland and Rangers, believes Wilder has got the qualities which can make him one of the leading bosses in our game.

“I’ve worked for some of the best managers in the world, managers like Alex Ferguson, and I see many great things in Chris Wilder . . . his attitude to players, how hard he works. His work ethic is unbelievable,” said Hodgy, who was awarded the MBE for services to the game.

“Chris Wilder has some great attributes and I can predict him being a great manager.”

The 72-year-old former Sheffield United star, and the man credited with bringing Peter Schmeichel to Manchester United, is reiterating the importance of United’s players focusing on winning themselves on Sunday, and not getting caught up in what happens at Torquay and Kidderminster.

“If we look at what’s happening elsewhere, we could get distracted,” he said. “Our job, first and foremost, is to win the game.

“It’s just a pity if the five-point deduction does us in the finish.”

United’s stunning second half of the season – in which James Constable jhas been on fire – means it’s all down to a dramatic final day.

Oxford’s achievement in keeping their season alive, when it had seemed all over at Christmas, should not be understated, Hodgkinson says, The U’s have managed to claw their way into the play-off picture despite a ludicrous imbalance in fixtures that saw them have four straight home games at the turn of the year, then successive away games, then another four home matches in a row in February, then five of their next six games away!

Constable actually failed to score in that second run of four home games (he was suspended for the first one).

But nobody complained because in the other nine home games since the end of November, he has smashed in 12 goals.

And his header with virtually the last touch of the game deep into stoppage time against Wrexham in the last home game summed up the team’s character and drive.

The fans too have played a massive part, bonding much closer with the players and vice versa.

Like the old days at the Manor when players and supporters used to mix for a drink in the Supporters Club after matches, and when all the staff and players got on so well together, it’s a proper club again.

Kelvin Thomas has helped with that too, getting all the office staff to come along to the recent Fans’ Forum, as a display of togetherness and showing they are interested in all that goes on.

That was highlighted again at this week’s Oxfordshire Senior Cup final at the Kassam Stadium where a mix of reserves and the youth team beat Banbury United.

All the first-team players were there to lend their support.

Looking to the Northwich game, Hodgkinson said: “Whatever happens, it’s been a magnificent performance from everyone involved.

“I’m very proud of Chris Wilder, proud of the players, and everybody at the club.

“It’s a great pleasure to be a part of it, and when you think we’ve played all these away games against the top teams and no-one’s beaten us.

“We won at Burton, Crawley and Kettering. We should have won at Cambridge, and I’m sure, had we had 11 players on the pitch, we would have won at Stevenage.

“We’re just taking Sunday as another match to complete the season, and just hope it will go our way.

“Although it’s non-League, the run we’ve been on matches the highest level of football.

“In any level, when you win the number of matches we have won, it really is a great, wonderful record.”