OXFORD United have switched their attention to the loan market for a winger after getting nowhere with their top target.

The U’s have been hunting a pacy wide man since Callum O’Dowda’s move to Bristol City six weeks ago, but time is running out with the transfer window closing on Wednesday night.

They were hoping to bring someone in on a permanent deal, as shown by the multiple bids made earlier this month for Marvin Johnson, who reportedly handed in a transfer request to Motherwell yesterday.

But with time ticking away, United head coach Michael Appleton revealed they were now looking at alternatives in the loan market.

It is hoped a deal will be tied up before tonight’s Checkatrade Trophy tie with Exeter City to avoid a deadline day rush.

When asked whether United had missed out on their main man, Appleton said: “Don’t rule anything out, but probably.

“I wouldn’t say things have shifted, they just haven’t moved.”

He added: “You really don’t want to go into Wednesday having to worry too much about people coming in or out, but every manager will be doing the same thing.

“We’re hoping our business can be concluded before the game, but if not we’ll take it into the last day.

“Loans can be done in a couple of hours.

“Even medicals with loans are very simple.

“We’re close but the problem is there are a lot of clubs looking at the same players.

“You have to have option B, C and D ready just in case.”

United are also on the lookout for cover at left back.

Joe Skarz picked up a thigh problem on Saturday which, while not expected to be serious, stretched a defensive unit already missing Christian Ribeiro and Curtis Nelson.

With emergency loans banned from this season, no short-term deals can be done between September and the new year.

Appleton feels United would be taking a big risk if they did not add one more defensive option.

He said: “The way the transfer and loan system is at the minute we will seriously look to bring some kind of cover in before Wednesday.

“We can’t put ourselves in a position where we leave ourselves short.

“While none of us expected to have three key defenders injured so early in the season we have to be professional and make sure the players we’ve got can play in the back four.

“If anything happened to them and we left ourselves really short we would be kicking ourselves.”