Alfie Potter will be a stronger and better player next season.

That is the opinion of Oxford United boss Chris Wilder, who yesterday worked with his squad – minus Potter – for the first time since it was revealed the winger would miss the remainder of the season with a broken ankle.

Potter scored a stunning solo strike at Burton in United’s last game, and looked like he was back to his brilliant best after a quiet start to 2012.

The former Peterborough man was in scintillating form earlier in the campaign before picking up an injury at Southend in November that saw him sidelined for more than a month.

Wilder is confident that once the injury has cleared up, the 23-year-old can improve once again.

“We are all desperately disappointed for Alfie because he is a popular lad,” Wilder said.

“But he’s still a young boy and there will be plenty of football left in him.

“If he keeps improving as he has done this season – and maybe add the most difficult part to the game of getting the goals to make him a complete player – then we’ll be very happy.”

He added: “There’s a lot more maturing for him to do in terms of the physicial aspect of him which has shown this season.

“He worked very hard last summer on a programme that was set out for him and he has been banging centre halves out the way and he can keep improving.”

OXFORD United Ladies’ FA Women’s Cup tie at Manchester City has been rescheduled for this Sunday, after being called off last weekend.