FOREST Green boss David Hockaday has strengthened his promotion push with the January transfer window capture of former Oxford United and Yeovil striker Yemi Odubade.

The much-travelled 28-year-old Nigerian-born hit-man, who helped Stevenage win promotion to the Football League in 2010, arrives at the New Lawn from Gateshead on loan until the end of the season.

The versatile Odubade can play as a striker or winger is known for his explosive pace and has scored four times for Gateshead this season – including against play-off contenders Luton Town, Newport County and Cambridge United.

Last season on Tyneside, Odubade scored seven times and claimed the most assists for Gateshead despite featuring in only 29 games.

Hockaday said Rovers had been keen to secure an experienced goal-scoring winger with speed to burn.

He said: "Yemi has blistering pace, he’s powerful and he scores but also creates goals. Plus he’s a big game player, if you go through his record since he’s been at Gateshead, he has a knack of either scoring or setting up goals against the top teams in the league.

"But most importantly his experience will be invaluable as we come into the business end of the season.

"He is also a very good character and has been a very popular player in the dressing room wherever he has been. I believe he will be a good influence on the younger players and help focus their efforts with his experience both on-and-off the field of play."

Signed for Gateshead from Stevenage in the 2011 close season, Nigerian-born Odubade grew up in East Sussex and started out at local club Eastbourne Town as a teenager where he scored an impressive 64 goals in 85 games.

A short spell at Yeovil Town was followed by a productive two seasons at Eastbourne Borough. A £25,000 move to Oxford United saw him score 31 goals over three seasons and Odubade was then top scorer at Stevenage when the club won promotion to the Football League in 2010.

Odubade met his new team-mates today at the Cirencester Indoor Arena.

He will come straight into contention for Saturday’s Blue Square Bet Premier game away to Stockport on Saturday.