Oxford United have snapped up striker Will Hoskins on a one-year deal.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion forward completed his medical with the Us this weekend after watching United suffer their fourth consecutive defeat in Division Four with a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has penned an initial 12-month contract, with a club option to extend that by a further year.

Hoskins began his career at newly promoted Division Two outfit Rotherham United where he scored 25 goals in 39 appearances for the Millers, attracting a host of prestigious clubs.

He signed for Division One side Watford on New Year’s Day in 2007 before being loaned out to Millwall and Nottingham Forest and eventually signing for Bristol Rovers in 2010.

Hoskins scored 20 goals in his first season for the Pirates, earning him a £500,000 move into Division Two with Brighton where he scored on his Seagulls debut before knocking Newcastle United out of the FA Cup last season with their second goal in their terrific 2-0 victory at the Amex Stadium.

The versatile forward has also represented England at Under-18, 19 and 20 level, but Hoskins hasn’t played a senior game since rupturing cruciate ligaments against Blackburn Rovers back in February 2013 before being released this summer.

Despite his injury-stricken stint on the south coast, Yellows boss Michael Appleton was delighted with his latest addition: “Will is an exciting signing for us. He has bags of experience, has scored goals throughout his career and he works ever so hard for the team.

“We have played well in every game so far this season but not picked up the results and I think anyone who has watched us has seen where we needed to strengthen.

“We have been patient in trying to find the right player and we believe that Will fits the bill perfectly.”

Oxford’s chief executive Mark Ashton added: “I worked with Will at Watford and know he is a bright lad who wants to do well.

“It’s no secret that we have been searching for a striker. Right at the start of that search I said to Michael that we needed “someone like Will Hoskins” but we knew there was interest from a number of higher league clubs.

“We met Will and explained what we are looking to build here and he really believes in the way we are approaching things.

“We are delighted that he has joined and we are still working hard to bring in further players who we believe will improve what we have here already.”