OXFORD United have moved to ease their injury crisis by signing George Waring on loan from Stoke City.

The 6ft 5in striker joins for an initial 28 days in a deal completed in time for him to be included in the squad for tonight's trip to Exeter City.

Waring has not featured for the Potters, but spent the second half of last season on loan at Barnsley, scoring six goals in 17 starts.

It boosts Michael Appleton's attacking options after the head coach revealed he only had 13 fit players report for training yesterday.

He said: “George has been on a lot of people’s radar for a while.

"He is a good player and has a physical presence up front but he also scores goals, as he showed at Barnsley.

"We have one or two knocks at the moment and George provides us with a different sort of threat and a bit more competition for places over the next month or so."

Waring, who came through the youth ranks at Everton, scored one goal and made the other as Stoke beat West Bromwich Albion in an under 21 game on Saturday.

  • George Waring will be hoping to score on his debut for Oxford United tonight, just as he did on loan at Barnsley last season - Barnsley FC's Youtube channel

  • George Waring scores twice for Stoke City's under 21s against Middlesbrough last season - Stoke City FC's Youtube channel