Crawley believe new signing Robbie Matthews will more than make up for the loss of Steve Fletcher.

Reds have captured the 26-year-old from Blue Square premier rivals Salisbury City until the end of the season and he is poised to make his debut against Oxford United today.

Assistant manager Paul Raynor revealed Crawley had been tracking Matthews for the last two years.

He said: “We’re delighted to get Robbie because he is a player we have admired for some time.

“He has always done well against us. He is similar to Fletch in that he gives us a physical presence and has good pace and movement.”

Matthews has been at Salisbury for three years but has only just returned from a loan spell at Havant and Waterlooville after hard-up Salisbury were forced to move on some of their big earners.

Fletcher completed his dream return to Bournemouth yesterday after signing until the end of the season with the option of a further year.

The 36-year-old played a record 466 games in his first spell at Dean Court and will be in the starting line-up at home to leaders Wycombe today.

He said: “It was the only club I could ever contemplate going to and I think it’s the only reason why (Crawley boss) Steve Evans has been so good about the situation.

“I have been speaking to Steve for the last ten days about it. I wouldn’t have even contemplated talking about a move unless it was Bournemouth. I was happy at Crawley but once I found out I didn’t want it to go away.

“Steve knew how much AFC means to me and my family and that he couldn’t stand in my way. I’m very grateful to him and the club.”

Reds could have seven players missing today with Lewis Chalmers, who serves a one-match ban, joining an already lengthy list of absentees.

Chris Giles (appendix), Lewis Killeen (ankle) and Isaiah Rankin (thigh) are definitely out but Raynor says there is a chance strikers Jamie Cook, who scored against Oxford in a 2-1 win in September, and new signing Jon Shaw might be fit enough to sit on the bench.

Raynor said: “They trained yesterday and we will see if there is any reaction this morning but we could have a few more options on the bench.”

Trialist Ben Gill is included after making a goalscoring debut against Chelmsford in the Setanta Shield on Tuesday, but Thomas Pinault is out after his younger brother Clement died of a heart attack on Thursday.

The 24-year-old, who played for French League side Clermont, collapsed at home last Sunday.

Crawley (probable): Rayner, Wilson, Rents, Wright, Quinn, Bulman, Weatherstone, Gill, Malcolm, Matthews, Pittman. Subs (from): Stevens, Shaw, Forrest, Cook, Nayee. Carter.