AGAIN! United to keep Gerrard for a third month EVERTON boss Walter Smith last night gave his blessing to Oxford United taking goalkeeper Paul Gerrard for a third month on loan.

The 26-year-old former England under 21 keeper is expected to return to the Manor today and continue in goal for the U's in their Division 1 relegation "six-pointer" at QPR tomorrow.

Everton were thought to be reluctant to allow Gerrard to stay at Oxford with their second-choice, Steve Simonsen, on international duty with England Under 21s against Poland at the end of this month.

But Gerrard is not in Smith's future plans and the Goodison chief has said he would rather the keeper is playing regular first-team football and be in the shop window.

Everton are insisting on an instant recall clause, but they have had that in the first two months, during which Gerrard has proved himself a quality keeper, keeping Elliot Jackson out of the team.

The former Oldham keeper's form appears to have got better by the week and he has been outstanding in United's last two matches against Ipswich and Sunderland.

Despite that, Everton say there has been no interest shown in Gerrard.

United boss Malcolm Shotton considered Swedish keeper Paul Lundin but was concerned about the risk and after a week's trial Lundin returned home last week. Shotton told me: "The goalkeeper is such an important position within the team.

"When we lost Phil Whitehead it hit us unbelievably hard. So I have wanted to be absolutely certain about which goalkeeper we get in. And with foreign goalkeepers you're just never sure."

Three months is the maximum that a player can be loaned out so Gerrard will return to Everton at the start of April.

However, Shotton will need to make a decision by the transfer deadline of March 25 on what to do for goalkeeping cover .

Shotton could return to Lundin and offer him a contract. The Swede, who had a year to run on his current contract with Osters, wants at least a 15-month deal to join Oxford.

OXFORD United's home match against Watford on March 13 has been made all-ticket on police advice.

Story date: Wednesday 03 March

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