Introducing Lloyd Owusu

After releasing Jason Price from his initial 1 month contract, consecutive defeats convinced Lawrie Sanchez that his side needed a new target man to partner Izale McLeod up front. With rumours circulating that Lloyd Owusu had been training at the The Hive for the previous week, it was little surprise when the Bees announced his signing on a short-term contract until January 2012.

In his 34 years, Owusu has become somewhat of journeyman within English football. Barnet are his 11th club in the last 9 seasons, and since leaving Sheffield Wednesday in 2004, he has yet to make 50 appearances for any one of his many clubs.

Starting his career at non-league Slough Town, Owusu`s goal scoring prowess was quickly recognised by Brentford who brought him to the club in 1998. It was at the West London club that the 6`2 striker enjoyed the best form of his career. In 4 seasons with the Bees, he scored 64 goals in 163 appearances as he fired Brentford to the 2002 Second Division play-off final where they lost to Stoke City 2-0.

With his contract expired, Owusu was free to talk to a number of interested clubs, and signed for Sheffield Wednesday that summer. Despite a fantastic start when he came off the bench to fire the Owls into the lead against their bitter rivals Sheffield United, Owusu found his opportunities limited and was soon loaned out to Reading who he subsequently joined in the Summer of 2004.

In his one year contract, he netted 6 times from 14 starts, but was mainly used as a substitute by Steve Coppell and found himself again out of contract in July 2005.

Having kept Brentford up against the odds, notorious boss Martin Allen handed Owusu a two year deal as the target-mans career went full circle. He enjoyed a fruitful first season, with 14 goals in 42 games as Brentford secured a play-off place. The 2006-2007 season was a frustrating one as Owusu was forced to undergo several operations, making his first appearance in March and was released at the end of his 2 year contract.

Spells as Yeovil Town, Cheltenham, and Brighton all followed, before Owusu headed for Adelaide United in 2009. Another bit part season with 1 goal in 16 appearances followed and, via brief spells at Luton and Cypriot Side AEP Paphos, he arrived at Underhill last week to continue his career in the lower-leagues.

Stats

With 145 goals in 456 appearances, a strike rate average of a goal every 3.1 games is respectable for a target man who has taken in so many clubs in his career. Relaxed and affable, recreationally Djing in his spare time, Owusu will look to bring a bit of bite to a Barnet attack becoming increasingly reliant on the expoloits of Izale McLeod.

His tall frame and powerful presence should provide a useful outlet away from home, and a decent scoring record should give Bees fans hope that he will give more of an impact than his predecessor Jason Price.