OXFORD United's new centre forward Andy Scott geared up for his debut against Walsall at the Manor Ground today with the words all U's fans want to hear.

"I don't want to play in the third division," said the 15-goal hit man who will line up in the Oxford attack alongside Northern Ireland international Phil Gray. "We're thinking we can stay up."

Scott, 28, has joined swapped mid-table security with Brentford for battling against relegation, but he sees no reason why his goals will dry up.

"I'm playing with confidence and it's a boost to be told that I'm playing up front. At Brentford, I was being moved about, but at my age, I need to be playing in one position and I want to play consistently as a forward.

"I think I can still do a job in getting goals here, and I'm looking forward to playing with Scott added: "I haven't set myself any targets, but when I was at Brentford, their fans were talking about me getting 25 goals this season, which would be nice.

The Epsom-born player, older brother of Rotherham's Rob Scott, will be looking to Joey Beauchamp and Chris Hackett to provide the goalscoring opportunities and he knows first-hand what spellbinding pace Hackett possesses after playing as left back against the teenager earlier this season.

"When I played at the Manor earlier in the season, when Brentford won 1-0, I was up against him, and he is quick," he said. "We need to be getting balls into the box and then I'm sure the goals will come.

Scott and 24-year-old Robert Quinn, who can play in midfield or defence, arrived from Griffin Park in a cut-price 150,000 deal which has amazed United fans, and outraged supporters of the London club.

And the striker explained what persuaded him to move. "The situation at Brentford was not getting any better. But we're not jumping ship, we're going because they want us to go.

"Oxford showed a bit of ambition, they are keen to bring in a lot of players to strengthen their team, and they offered me a 2T-year contract. I had to look at every aspect of the deal, but career-wise, it's a good move for me.

"Thursday proved to be a long day, much longer than we had been anticipating, but with every hour that passed, it proved to me that both Joe Kinnear and David Kemp had got the best interests of the team at heart. They are definitely interested in bringing in more new players, and long-term, the chairman has put together some moves that provide stability.

"The new stadium is going to be impressive and they're keen for the team to be still playing in the second division when we move into it.

"Joe Kinnear and Dave Kemp wouldn't be here if they felt it was a hopeless case and I'm confident other players will come in."