Oxford United hope to have two new signings in their team to face Denis Smith's West Bromwich Albion at the Manor tomorrow.

New boss Malcolm Shotton has completed the signing of Kevin Francis from Birmingham City, with central defender Darren Purse moving in the opposite direction.

And he was trying to finalise the capture of defender Steve Davis from his old club Barnsley by the 12 noon deadline to enable him to play tomorrow night.

Former England youth international Davis, now 32, has played more than 400 league games for Crewe, Burnley and Barnsley. Last season he played 24 times as Barnsley won promotion to the Premiership, scoring three times.

Meanwhile, 6ft 7in giant Kevin Francis is determined to help Shotton's men scale new heights.

The tallest player in English professional football signed a two-and-a-half year contract after agreeing personal terms following an unhappy year in the shadows at St Andrews.

According to Birmingham, United receive £600,000 in the player-plus-cash transfer which takes Purse to Birmingham and brings Francis south.

The U's beat Northampton and Walsall in the race to prise Francis away from Birmingham and the 30-year-old forward said the chance to join Shotton's new set-up at the Manor excited him.

"Oxford have been going through a lot of changes with different players, and especially with a new manager," he said.

"They're clearly rebuilding - but that's the best way when you go to a club . . . to go in and be part of that."

Francis added: "The chance to get regular first-team football is the most important thing, plus the fact that it's been made obvious to me that I'm not wanted here at Birmingham."

Shotton said: "From our point of view it's a good deal for the club."

Meanwhile, Shotton has signed a two-and-a-half year pre-contract agreement as Oxford United manager.

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