Chris Wilder believes his latest capture, Alfie Potter, is one of those arguably rare players – a winger with bottle.

The 20-year-old has joined the U’s on a season-long loan from Championship new boys Peterborough United, and increases what was already strong competition for one of the wide midfield berths in the team.

U’s boss Wilder admits he was impressed with him from the moment he saw him.

“He’s a player that caught my eye when I went to watch a game and we kept tabs on him,” he said. “I saw him on half a dozen occasions last year.

“He’s a lively character and a tough boy. He’s not the biggest, but he’ll bounce back after getting whacked and I think wingers do accept that will happen in the game.

“He’s got plenty of bottle and we’re looking forward to having him in with us for the season.

“There are certain aspects of his game that we have to work on, he’s still only a young boy. We feel he gives us good pace and good positive ability out wide.”

Potter, who made national headlines by scoring Havant & Waterlooville’s second goal when they stunned Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup in January 2008, leading 2-1 before eventually losing 5-2, spent last season on loan at Blue Square Premier side Kettering Town, making 29 starts and ten sub appearances in the league.

So he knows what Conference football is all about.

He said: “I’m very pleased to come to Oxford. When I knew about their interest, I knew straight away that it’s a club I wanted to come to, the manager’s got a very good reputation.

“There was interest from a couple of other clubs, but nothing concrete, and when the manager told me what Oxford’s offer was, I said straight away yes, I’ll sign.

Wilder believes United now have plenty of options on both flanks through new signings Alex Rhodes, Marcus Kelly and Potter, and with Adam Chapman, Sam Deering, Matt Green and Damian Batt also able to play wide.

And he believes Potter, who was at Millwall as a youngster, can offer something different.

“He’s direct and he’s a little bit unpredictable, but he’s a positive young player who will fit in with the young positive players within our squad.,” he said.

“He’s positive and will take people on.”

The signing has come about partly through the contact they have with their former striker and coach David Oldfield, who is now Peterborough United’s assistant manager.

Said Wilder: “We feel we’ve got a really good deal financially out of the situation.

“There were a couple of clubs chasing, but Darren (Ferguson) and Barry (Fry) thought it was best for him to come and develop more at this football club.

“We’ve got good contacts there, we really appreciate the way they have been in letting us have Alfie for the year.

“It’s up to us to work with Alfie, and up to him to develop and improve on his career.”