OXFORD City hope to complete a loan move for Oxford United striker James Roberts ahead of their trip to Whitehawk in Vanarama National League South tomorrow.

But Justin Merritt’s side were last night dealt a blow when the influential Luke Coulson agreed a deal with National League Premier side Eastleigh.

Roberts, 19, made 26 appearances for the U’s last season, scoring five times, as well as enjoying a spell on loan at Chester earlier in this campaign.

He featured for United’s development side in a 1-1 draw with the FAB Academy at Bisham Abbey on Tuesday, but has not played competitively since November 21.

City’s general manager, Justin Merritt, believes the proposed move would provide Roberts with some much-needed competitive action.

He said: “Hopefully, if James comes, he’ll get lots of football and lots of goals and it will be a win for Oxford City, a win for Oxford United and a win for James himself.

“We try and play football the right way and are right on United’s doorstep so they could monitor his progress.

“For him, it would be an opportunity to get some minutes under his belt.

“It would be a really good experience for him, helping us to push for a place in the play-offs.”

Coulson has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Eastleigh, for what they say is a club record fee.

City officials told the Oxford Mail last night the fee was undisclosed, and the deal did include a sell-on clause, which was also undisclosed.

Coulson, 21, a former Manchester City trainee, can play at either right back or right wing, and has made a big impression at Marsh Lane since joining from Cardiff City.

City are without captain Darren Pond (ankle) and centre back Alejandro-Adrian Santiago (hamstring) for the trip to the south coast after both picked up injuries in Tuesday’s 3-0 FA Trophy win at Cheltenham Town.

David King is also out with an ankle injury, but cup-tied full-back Matt Bevans is set to return for a match which Merritt believes could be one of City’s toughest of the season.

“We’ve got some momentum behind us after the last couple of games,” he said. “We’ve scored seven goals and conceded just one.

“But this is the toughest game of the three when you look at the quality in their squad.

“When we played them earlier in the season it was a very even, high-quality game.”

Meanwhile, midfielder Ander Del Alamo has returned to Spain for an operation on the tendons in his ankle after a complication was discovered during his recovery.

Full-back Paul Stonehouse, who is recovering from a similar injury, has gone to Southern League side Slough Town on a 28-day loan.

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Whitehawk, away): from Walker, Arzamendi, Bevans, Lapoujade, Fleet, Lafuente, Isaac, Bubb, McDonagh, Jackson, Benjamin, Pifarré, Henderson.