SWINDON Town have signed forward Hallam Hope from Carlisle United on an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old becomes manager Richie Wellens’ fourth January incoming after the arrival of Anthony Grant, Paul Caddis and Rarmani Edmonds-Green.

Hope, who has three goals in 30 appearances this season for the Cumbrians, has been a long-time target for Wellens with the Adver reporting the Barbados international was interested in a move to the club last summer.

But after finally getting his man to sign on the dotted line just hours after loanee Jerry Yates was recalled by parent club Rotherham United, Wellens expressed his delight at bringing Hope to the County Ground.

He said: “He’s got goals in him, he trained on Wednesday and he scored a hell of a lot of goals in training – his finishing is very good and he’s an aerial threat at the back post.

“Hopefully he can hit a good run of form now because he’s a very good age, he’s played a hell of a lot of games and physically he’s very good.

“We’ll try and work with him as much as possible in the short period before Saturday to get him up to speed with how we play.

“His movement is clever, and he can link up play, so I’m really pleased with this signing.”

Despite only being 25, Hope has amassed 48 goals from 234 appearances since beginning his career on loan at Northampton Town from Everton.

Wellens feels goals are not all the Mancunian offers however – Town’s manager believes Hope can be a threat out wide as well and is more than capable of chipping in with assists in key moments.

The former Carlisle man has accumulated four assists already this season – all coming in the FA Cup – backing up his new manager’s view that Hope is a valuable asset in the attacking third.

Wellens said: “Last season, Hallam scored 15 league goals from a wide left position, which is obviously a really good return.

“I think the season before, he scored 14 from wide left.

“He’s a bit of a stop-start season at Carlisle, and the last six weeks or so he’s played up front when we think his best position is being the second striker from the left.

“We can play him up front, but long-term I do see him playing off the left.

“Coming into pockets, being clever, but when the ball is on the other side of the pitch he can be that second striker.”