OXFORD United midfielder Josh Payne has handed boss Chris Wilder a big boost after Doncaster agreed to extend his loan spell until January.

With his deal from the Championship side due to expire after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Cheltenham, Wil-der was keen to keep Payne, 19, longer, following some impressive displays.

And yesterday the two clubs and Payne agreed he could stay until the new year.

“Josh has done great for us,” said Wilder.

“He has fitted in well and is enjoying his football.

“Doncaster see it as a way for him to gain valuable experience and we are happy to have him here.

“He is a popular lad and has done well for the team.”

Meanwhile, Wilder singled out teenager Leigh Franks for special praise after his display against Cheltenham.

It was the second away game in succession that the U’s had fought back from a goal down at half-time to earn a useful point.

And what made the draw so worthy of mer it was it was achieved in the face of great adversity, with Oxford missing key players Jake Wright, James Constable and Ant-hony Tonkin, and then losing Mark Creighton in the first 15 minutes with a toe injury.

So Steve Kinniburgh and Franks were thrown in at the deep end for their Football League debuts, and both did well.

Wilder added: “There was no trouble chucking Franksy in.

“He’s a 19-year-old lad, but he’ll get better and I think he’ll have enjoyed the experience.

“I thought he was outstanding because Wesley Thomas is highly regarded there and has scored a decent number of goals.

“And Harry Worley’s only 21 as well, so we had a pretty young back four.

“We’ve chucked Kinn-iburgh in, he’s played and he has to learn quickly.

“I’ve got no worries about throwing the kids in,” Wilder said.

“That’s what they’re there for . . . they’ve got to learn and got to go and play if they have to.”

With Josh Payne, Alfie Potter, Tom Craddock and Sam Deering also involved, it was one of the youngest sides United have ever fielded in a Football League match.

And Wilder was delighted with the way they responded from a difficult first half hour to go on and dominate the second half.

“I didn’t enjoy the first 25 minutes, because I thought we were outgunned and outbattled,” said the boss.

“I thought we weren’t strong enough first half. Second half I was delighted with the performance.”