Oxford United boss Chris Wilder has hailed his centre back Jake Wright as one who has “grown and grown” this season.

Wright was brought in midway through the season as a replacement for Luke Foster, and while that raised a few eyebrows at the time, Wright has ended the season at Wembley in the Blue Square Premier play-off final.

Foster, who was sold to Mansfield, meanwhile finished the campaign missing out on the play-offs and being fined and disciplined by the Stags after a Facebook entry describing the club as “a shambles”.

Former Halifax, Crawley and Bradford defender Wright, who was signed on loan from Brighton in the January transfer window, is a player who will be key to the U’s on Sunday.

Wilder admits it’s hard not to be impressed by the 23-year-old.

“I suppose a lot of people in the club were surprised by the decision I made at Christmas. And it’s been tough for Jake, he’s had to overcome that. He’s been first -class for us, he’s a great character and a great footballer.

“I wanted to bring in a left-footed centre half, because I think that’s important when you come up against a lot of the teams, and all different systems.

“Jake maybe had a slightly slow start, but he’s grown and grown, and everyone’s seen what a good player he is and what a good character he is to have around the place.”

Wright said he had simply got his head down and worked hard.

He told the club’s website: “When I first came here, we were second in the league but we had two games in hand. So I think a lot of people were fully expecting us to go on and win the league after the form the team had shown before New Year.

“We had a rocky time in March and I think a lot of people wrote us off.

“Luton were the big favourites to win the play-offs and they haven’t even made it to the final, but we’ve just kept our heads down and gone about our business.

“Everybody within the club, players and staff, knew what we were capable of.

“On our day we’re a good match for absolutely any team in this division, and even though we all know what a tough team York are, we’re all going there totally focused and looking to do a job.”