U's swoop to sign Haldane

12:21am Tuesday 8th July 2008

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Oxford United on Monday night were reported to have signed Welsh forward Lewis Haldane on a season-long loan from Bristol Rovers.

Although there was no official confirmation from United, it's understood the 23-year-old has followed former Pirates full-back Chris Carruthers to the Kassam Stadium.

A product of the Southampton youth academy, he is now primarily seen as a winger, and is comfortable on either flank.

He has made 143 appearances for Rovers, scoring 17 goals.

However, he scored just once in 38 first-team outings last season - grabbing a late winner against Millwall last November with the first headed goal of his career.

One of the highlights of his career was playing in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, in April 2007, where the Pirates went down 3-2 after extra time against Doncaster Rovers in front of a crowd of 59,000.

He has also been out on loan at Forest Green Rovers (twice) and at Weston-super-Mare.

Haldane was born in Trowbridge, but due to parentage he has Welsh eligibility, and has one cap for Wales Under 21s, playing in a goalless draw against Turkey in September 2006.

Haldane could join Carruthers, ex-Northampton midfielder Joe Burnell and Gash in Tuesday night's friendly at Oxford City (7.45).

Centre back Chris Willmott is due to make his first appearance since November after recovering from a knee problem, which saw him miss almost the whole of last season.

Another long-term absentee, Luke Bennett, returns after almost 18 months out with a knee injury.

United will field a number of triallists, including former West Brom midfielder Rob Davies, ex-Portsmouth midfielder Gary Silk, former Sheffield United striker Dean Oliver, Cheltenham Town frontman Craig Reid and ex-Plymouth forward Reuben Reid.

The U's are set to put out a different starting XI in each half.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S SQUADS Oxford City: from Tucker, Saulsbury, C Weedon, Young, Gunn, Allaway, B Weedon, Davies, Lyon, Gardner, Malone, Pond, Redknap, Draycott, Roper, Baird, Romeo, Stewart.

Oxford Utd: from Turley, Day, Quinn, Willmott, Foster, Murray, Trainer, Odubade, Clarke, Carruthers, Burnell, Bennett, Gash, Oliver, Davies, Silk, C Reid, R Reid, Haldane.

DIDCOT Town centre back Richard Peirson has joined Division 1 South & West rivals Slough Town.

Meanwhile, Didcot host League One side Cheltenham Town in the first of their pre-season friendlies on Tuesday night (7.45).