New signing Lloyd Owusu says it was the possibility of regular first team football that attracted him to Cheltenham Town.

The 31-year old former Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday and Reading striker believed he would spend more time on the substitute's bench than on the field at Yeovil Town - his club for the past year - so says he jumped at the chance when Keith Downing offered him a move to Whaddon Road.

He says he feels fit, fresh and ready to recapture the form that got him into the Ghana international squad ahead of the 2006 World Cup before an injury cruelly denied him the chance to represent his country in Germany.

He talks with genuine enthusiasm about the new challenge ahead of him having moved from Yeovil only a few hours before yesterday's (September 1) transfer deadline.

"I'm really looking forward to a new start," he said.

"I had a bit of dialogue with Keith Downing at the beginning of the season about maybe coming to Cheltenham but nothing really materialised. I continued with what I had to do at Yeovil but I've been on the bench for the last couple of weeks. We had some more dialogue and the move came together quite quickly yesterday so it's all good.

"Last season we did okay as a team at Yeovil but not as well as we thought we should have done. Individually I took part in nearly every game and was leading goal scorer so I thought I did okay, expecially considering that I missed nearly all of the previous season through injury. I believe the manager wasn't going to make me first choice at the start of this season so I'm really pleased to have got this chance now with Cheltenham.

"It's always nice to be wanted and I appreciate everything Keith Downing has done for me. Hopefully I can reward him and the club and the fans by getting some goals because that's what I'm all about.

"I know a few of the boys here - Alex Russell, Craig Armstrong, little Jennison and Damian Spencer, who I've known since he was about 10 because his mum lives near mine - so that will help me to settle in I'm sure. I've followed Cheltenham's results right from the non-league days and I know they're a good club who've come along way and played some good football."

Lloyd first played against Cheltenham for Slough Town in the Conference in 1997 before a £25,000 move took him to Brentford. His career has witnessed some fairly sharp ups and downs since then.

"The first highlight was just to turn professional aged 21 having come through the youth and reserves at Slough Town," he explained.

"I then had four fantastic years at Brentford. We won the old Division Three in my first year and I was joint leading scorer in the division. We then reached the play-off final and LDV Final after that.

"When I went to Sheffield Wednesday it was a great move because that is a massive club but for myself it didn't really work out that well so I was grateful when Steve Coppell gave me the chance to play in the Championship with Reading. I had some good times there and then I had the chance to go back to Brentford, which I was happy to do because the club had been brilliant to me and I love them to bits.

"I got into the Ghana squad in preparation for the 2006 World Cup and played in four matches. At the time I hadn't heard of all the Ghana players but I was training with people like Michael Essien and Stephen Appiah so it was not until later that I found out what special players they are.

"Everything was going well until two months before the World Cup when I ruptured my groin playing for Ghana in a warm-up against Stuttgart. It was a massive downfall for me but I came back fighting and Russell Slade at Yeovil gave me the chance to prove my fitness, which I did. I think I even surprised him with the number of games I played and I'd like to thank Russell and the fans there for everything but this is a fresh start for me now."

Lloyd has so far scored 114 Football League goals from 278 starts across his various clubs and believes he still has plenty to offer Cheltenham Town. He is also looking forward to playing alongside players he knows to be good suppliers to the front men, such as Alex Russell, Josh Low and Jennison Myrie-Williams.

"I believe I bring a wealth of experience having played for 10 years at some good clubs," said Lloyd.

"My goal scoring record is not bad - about one in three - and although people think of me as a target man, as I've got older my touch, movement and awareness have improved. I think that with the likes of Alex and Josh in the team I can thrive off balls into the box. If we can get plenty of crosses into the box then I'll be looking to get on the end of them."

Lloyd's transfer went through last night and he will be available to make his debut, alongside fellow new boy Josh Low, in Saturday's Coca-Cola League One home match against Huddersfield Town (3pm).