Gary Johnson has been speaking of the qualities of John Akinde which prompted him to recruit the young striker from Ebbsfleet United.

The City manager announced after the 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers that his club were poised to the complete the undisclosed fee signing of 18-year-old Akinde from the Blue Square Premier club.

And, speaking to Bristol City World, Gary said: "He's very quick, he's young and is strong in getting in behind. We haven't brought him here for a year or 18 months' time.

"I just felt we needed five strikers and he's gives me that fifth striker, although it's not necessarily in that order.

"He's relatively inexperienced and he hasn't had a proper pre-season, so we'll have to work with him for a little bit to ensure he's strong and fit enough to take part in our training.

"We'll see him soon enough and I think the fans will see what we saw in him."

Speculation had been building all week, heightened further by Akinde's arrival in the directors' box yesterday wearing a club tracksuit.

When asked if that meant he had already signed, Gary joked: "No, it means he's nicked one of our tracksuits!"

He then added: "Everything's agreed with Ebbsfleet, everything's agreed with the boy; he loves it here and he's already had four sessions with our fitness team.

"We're just waiting for the administrative side of things to make the deal official on Monday."

The boss believes it will be City's only signing before the transfer deadline, although he did admit the club had enquired about a "young, left-sided defender".

Links with Crystal Palace's James Scowcroft were laughed of by Gary, as were reports linking Lee Trundle with a return to Swansea City.

"There's nothing in that, of course that wouldn't happen," said the manager. "He's our player now and he's got to wait his opportunity."