Oxford United today signed two new strikers on loan, each for one month. First in was Ashley Barnes, from Plymouth Argyle. Barnes signed for Plymouth from Paulton Rovers, currently in the Southern League Division One South & West (the same level as Oxford City, Didcot Town, and Abingdon United). He is just 18 years old, and has yet to make a first-team appearance for Argyle, but he will nevertheless go straight into Oxford's squad for the game at Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.

Shortly after Barnes arrived, United announced that they had also brought in Matt Green from Cardiff City. Green has two years on Barnes, and has a slightly better pedigree, having joined Cardiff from Newport County, and also having made seven appearances (all as substitute) for the Bluebirds. He was recently on loan to Dave Penney's Darlington, where he started three times and came off the bench twice.

Bringing in these players on loan-deadline day adds a bit of strength to United's squad in the run-up to the Christmas period, and will compensate for the return of Kieran St Aimie[@player]st aimee, kieron[/@player] to Queens Park Rangers and the three-match suspension of Rob Duffy for his red card against Ebbsfleet United on Saturday. The Grays Athletic website also reports that Michael Standing[@player]standing, michael[/@player] has signed a reserve contract (whatever one of them might be) for six weeks at the Recreation Ground, although this has not been confirmed by Oxford United.