A LOAN spell in non-league is doing Max Crocombe the world of good, according to Oxford United head coach Michael Appleton.

The goalkeeper moved to Nuneaton Town in February and has impressed, keeping five clean sheets in a row.

He has played eight games in less than two months at the Vanarama Conference strugglers – twice as many appearances as the 21-year-old has made for the U’s.

Crocombe, who has also been called up to the New Zealand senior squad in the past month, still spends time training at United during the week.

And Appleton has noticed a big difference.

He said: “Max has certainly come back a different goalkeeper, even in the short spell he’s had he’s actually playing men’s football and he looks a different person and a different player.

“He had a few concentration issues early in the season which he seems to have ironed out now going out on loan to Nuneaton.”

The move has come at just the right time for the youth team graduate, whose contract at United expires this summer.

The club do retain an option to extend the stay for an additional two seasons, though.

Although results elsewhere on Tuesday night effectively relegated Nuneaton, Crocombe starred in their victory over West Brom.

The goalkeeper saved two penalties as the non-league side reached the Birmingham Senior Cup final.

It was the second time he had faced the Baggies in a shoot-out this season, having played in United’s 7-6 defeat on penalties in a Capital One Cup tie at The Hawthorns last August.