BRAINTREE Town are ready to unleash new signing Alex Rhodes.

The pacey 27-year-old has arrived at Cressing Road from Blue Square Premier side Oxford United and Iron assistant manager Jason Broom told the Braintree and Witham Times that they have signed an “exciting” talent.

He will make his debut when Iron go to St Albans in Blue Square South on Saturday and Broom said he has the credentials to make a big impact.

He said: “Alex can play out wide or upfront and is a young and hungry player who wants to get back into the professional game.

“We have him until January 1 and hopefully longer.

“He played for Rotherham last season and started the season at Oxford but having been in the team and then dropped out, he has not been able to find a way back in.

“He was a bit frustrated so Oxford have allowed him to go.

“Having been released he can’t go back into the Blue Square Premier or the Football League until January so in a way we are doing him a favour and he is doing us one.

“Coming from Romford, he is a local boy, and will give us plenty of options.”

Rhodes began his footballing career at Newmarket Town in the Ridgeons League.

He rose to prominence when he struck three hat-tricks in successive matches in 2003 and after a number of trials with Football League clubs, including Ipswich Town, he signed for Brentford where he played 65 games, scoring six goals and had loan spells at Swindon Town and Grays Athletic.