AHMED Kashi has been backed to make a difference to the Oxford United dressing room after joining on loan for the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old is the club’s third signing of the January transfer window and is reunited with boss Karl Robinson.

Kashi played for the U’s head coach at Charlton Athletic and knows what to expect after making the move from Ligue 2 side Troyes.

Earlier this month Robinson hinted the midfielder was an option, citing his leadership qualities as a key reason for United’s interest.

And his new teammates are about to find out the Algeria international expects high standards.

Robinson said: “Ahmed’s very strong-minded, I know in the dressing room he’ll ask questions of players.

“He doesn’t care what people think of him – he’s not here to be liked, he’s here to be successful.

“He’s a student of the game and is someone who will go into management one day.

“After a game he’ll watch it four or five times and then go to players and say ‘you didn’t do this or that right’.

“But he’s the first person to hold his hand up when he makes a mistake.

“He’s that type of man and it’s something I wanted to bring into the building.”

Kashi was a target for United after his contract expired at the Valley last summer.

But he opted to return to France, where he had spent the rest of his career.

After starting four of the first five league games of the campaign, he lost his place through an injury and with results improving could not force his way back into the starting XI.

Despite the disrupted season, Kashi will be included in the squad to face Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One tomorrow, providing international clearance comes through in time.

He said: “I’m really fit, because I was training really hard to be ready when I can play.

“When I was talking with Karl I started watching the team play.

“They have a really good team with really good players.

“I think they can be higher in the table than they are and hopefully I can help them.”