Manager Chris Wilder believes success for Oxford United next season could hinge on having strong back-up players.

Emphasising the importance of a quality squad, Wilder says it could be just as important to have effective players in his 12-20 as in the starting XI each match.

The U’s boss, who is believed to be close to signing two more players – to go with his recent captures Mark Creighton, Jack Midson, Dannie Bulman and Alex Rhodes, and James Constable last month – said: “If we are going to be successful, it’s going to take a 19-20 man squad.

“In the Premier League they’re talking about that with Man Utd. It’s not the 1-11 that’s won them the Premier League, it’s the 12-20 that’s maybe determined the season, and I don’t think it’s any different at our level.

“Our squad is strong, there’s competition for places all over the pitch, and we’ve got options when we go into games and in what we can handle during games.”

Wilder was referring to the depth of squad following last week’s signing of left winger Rhodes, who may have to prove himself to be in Wilder’s starting XI.

But United’s manager says Rhodes’s versatility enables him to be considered not just as an out-and-out winger, but as a wide attacking player if he chooses to play 4-3-3.

“He does both – he can come inside or play wide. He’s got pace, which you need in the team, and you need to cover all bases,” said Wilder.

“With Adam Murray or Sam Deering, if we play two straight up there – we’ve got that with Jack Midson – we’ve got different permutations and that’s what you need going into a season.

“You’ve got to make sure everything’s covered, it’s good to get Alex to go in there to do that, whether he starts or whether he comes off the bench.”

Rhodes spent around five years at Brentford and in the last couple of seasons has been plying his trade with Yorkshire clubs in League Two.

“Alex’s had a career, possibly not as good a career as he should have had,” Wilder said. “It’s up to us to get him back going again.

“At Rotherham, even with the deduction of the points, they had a great run. They would have been in the play-offs. He was part of that team that did very well.

“And the year before he played in League Two with Bradford, who were at the top of the league all season as well. So he’s a player who we feel can help us, and we can help him as well.”