Oxford United boss Chris Wilder has bolstered the experience in his young team by signing Southampton’s Paul Wotton on loan.

The 33-year-old defensive midfielder is set to arrive in Oxford today and will be involved for the U’s for the first time when they travel to face Rotherham on Saturday.

Plymouth-born Wotton played in defence for Plymouth Argyle and scored 61 goals in 438 appearances for the Pilgrims, captaining the side to the Division 3 championship in 2001-2.

He possesses a ferocious shot and scored many of his goals from free-kicks.

Wotton joined Southampton in 2008 where he has made a further 41 starts and 30 sub appearances in the last two seasons.

He joins United on loan until the end of December.

U’s boss Chris Wilder said: “He is an experienced lad with a great attitude.

“He is a leader and wants to come here and do well with Oxford United.

“His record speaks for itself and for the last couple of weeks we have been looking for exactly his type of experience and will-to-win. I am delighted that he is coming on loan.”

After Sunday’s 1-0 FA Cup first-round defeat at Burton Albion, Wilder said his inexperienced team needed some help with confidence low following a poor run of results.

Wotton is likely to be used as a holding midfielder by United, the same role he has been playing for Saints, and that might enable Josh Payne to play further forward.

He has played three times for Southampton this season, but without being involved much in the first-team set-up lately.

His last Saints game was against Oldham on October 23, and he was on the bench for their FA Cup tie against Shrewsbury at the weekend, but did not come on.

Wotton was believed to have been keen to get away from St Mary’s to get some regular first-team football, especially after Southampton signed Richard Chaplow on loan from Preston, effectively relegating him to No 3 in the pecking order in his position.

With so much Football League experience under his belt, he should be able to guide and advise his teammates on the field, and provide that central defensive midfield barrier that has often been missing in recent matches when opponents have broken forward.

OXFORD United are in action in the FA Youth Cup first round against Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road tonight (7pm).