Jamie Brooks and Olly Burgess have left Oxford City, who have at the same time signed Jack Mills and Michael Hector, from Reading.

Also joining City, who visit Weymouth today in the Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division, is Harry Harding, who impressed when with them last year. He arrives for a month Brooks, 27, whose professional career was cut short by illness, had been with the Court Place Farm club for two years, joining them from Abingdon United.

The former Oxford United player, one of the best talents to come through their books in recent years, attracted attention from Arsenal before being struck down with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which kept him out of football for 18 months.

City boss Mike Ford, who read the riot act after the 2-0 defeat at Chesham in midweek, has been trying to bring players in to his injury-hit squad.

Among those sidelined are Andy Ballard, who suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury against Chesham, Jack Ashton, who had a recurrence of his knee injury, and Craig McIlwain, who injured a thigh early in his debut last Saturday against Bedford.

Ford said: “McIlwain will be back with us shortly but Ashton and especially Ballard are going to be missing for a lot longer.

“I have secured the services of Jack Mills and Michael Hector.

“Jack is a current England Under 19 international and Michael is a 6’2” centre half.”