Oxford United have completed a deal for defender Tom Newey whilst also re-signing midfielder Asa Hall on a six-month loan. The 30-year-old left-back moves to the Kassam Stadium on a one-year deal following his release from Scunthorpe United at the end of last season. Meanwhile, the Us also welcome back central midfielder Hall, who is reunited with his former team-mates after signing on-loan until the New Year from Shrewsbury Town.

Newey made 49 appearances for the Iron last season in Division Three, picking up three end of season awards at Glanford Park, despite the club being condemned to relegation into League Two on the final day of the season. The solid defender has played over 400 games since beginning his career in the youth ranks at Championship outlet Leeds United, moving on to the likes of Leyton Orient, Cambridge United and Bury.

Newey sealed a move to Rotherham United in 2010, making 53 appearances for the Millers in Division Four before putting pen to paper on a deal at Scunthorpe last summer.

On the other hand, Hall will need no introduction to United fans after playing 82 times for the Yellow during his two-year stint at the club. The 25-year-old moved to the Kassam Stadium in 2010 on a free transfer after being released by Conference side Luton Town. Hall netted 11 times for Oxford before rejecting a new contract just 14 months ago to join Graham Turner’s Shrewsbury in England’s third-tier of football.

However, the tall midfielder soon returned to League Two football in a loan spell at Aldershot Town last season. He featured in the Shots 3-2 victory against the Us at the Recreation Ground back in April, before the club fell through the trapdoor and were demoted to the Conference in May.

The new duo become United’s sixth and seventh summer signings, following Jon Meades, David Hunt, Dave Kitson, Danny Rose and Josh Shama in sealing moves to Oxford this transfer window.

Manager Chris Wilder was proud to welcome the pair: “They are both very experienced, solid players and they add a bit of depth. They both came to the Marine Camp training base over the weekend and fitted straight in to the strong team ethic that this group have already developed.

“Tom adds balance on the left side of defence and is a very good organiser as well as a good player. Asa showed us towards the end of his first spell here what a good player he can be at this level.

“He scores his fair share of goals, works hard for the team and can play all across the midfield. If he can perform as consistently over the next six months as he did at the end of his first spell here then he will certainly add to the squad.”

Meanwhile, the club have also announced that Oxford’s opening league fixture away to Portsmouth may be restricted to just 1,600 away supporters at Fratton Park next month. Oxford’s League Two opening encounter away to Pompey on Saturday 3 August could be disrupted by on-going safety certificate work, meaning many Us supporters may be left disappointed after what many thought would be a strong following from the loyal Yellow’s down on the south-coast.

United’s Capital Cup first-round clash with Championship side Charlton Athletic has been rewarded a healthy allocation of 3,000 away supporters in the Jimmy Seed South Stand for the Us clash with the Addicks on Tuesday 6 August.

And there was more good news for Oxford United in the domestic cup competitions after the club were handed a first-round bye in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. The Yellows are now already in the draw for the second-round draw alongside fierce rivals Swindon Town.