Striker Lee Steele is back at Oxford City, just five months after he left Court Place Farm.

Steele, 36, scored 24 goals for City before being released in the summer due to financial constaints.

But the departure of several players, including keeper Richard Knight, has enabled boss Mike Ford to re-sign the ex-Oxford United frontman.

“Lee will be signing for us. It’s all done and dusted,” said a delighted Ford, who will give Steele a return debut in Saturday’s Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division clash at Cirencester.

“We’re just waiting for the forms to come back from him,” added Ford.

“He wants to get back to enjoying his football again. He was playing at Ashton United in the Unibond Premier League, but wasn’t happy.

“He enjoyed playing for us last season where the players voted him their player of the season.

“It’s great news – we have lacked goals and Lee is a proven goalscorer.

“I don’t expect him go charging around, but when the ball is in and around the area, I want him to be on the end of it.

“We have been creating chances and if they had fallen to Lee, then I think we would have scored a lot more goals than we have this season.”

But Ford said Steele’s arrival did not mean his players could take their foot off the gas.

“I don’t want them thinking that Lee will arrive like a knight in shining armour and they can relax,” he added.

“We can’t rely solely on Lee to score for us.”

Meanwhile, City have signed keeper Richard Barrett from North Leigh after Ford decided not to sign ex-Forest Green Rovers stopper Terry Burton.

Ford, who watched Barrett against Gosport Borough on Saturday, said: “I only want players here who want to play for ths club, but I didn’t have the right vibe about Terry and it’s not going to happen.

“It’s a great opportunity for Richard who I worked with many years ago at Brackley. He is a good talker and commands his area well.”

City have released striker Danny Lennon, while defender Tommy Kinch has joined Woodford United.