ENSURING players are treated well when they are out on loan is more important than any financial offers prospective clubs make, according to Oxford United boss Michael Appleton.

Temporary moves are now permitted after the window opened on Wednesday.

Several fringe players in the U’s squad have been earmarked for loans, with moves in the pipeline for goalkeeper Max Crocombe and full back Freddie Grant in the next week.

Appleton made it clear the club take great care over where players were sent.

He said: “It’s about relationships between ourselves and contacts within the game, making sure they do things properly.

“I’m not talking about playing wonderful football, as long as they get treated properly.”

It comes higher than the proportion of the player’s wages a club is willing to play.

“Without a shadow of a doubt,” agreed Appleton.

“Certainly with the younger players, because with the greatest respect it’s not a lot of money anyway.

“It’s more about their development.”

He added: “We turned one down this morning.

“We weren’t happy sending one of the players – again that’s not disrespectful thing, it’s about having an idea of how it happens.”

Striker James Roberts is another player in the frame for a loan, something Appleton said was helped by the impressive form of first year professional AJ George.

He said: “AJ has stepped up and looks more than capable of coming in as and when he’s needed.

“That might just give us that confidence in the short-term to allow James to go out.”