FORMER Birmingham City star Kevin Francis could be poised to become Redditch United's biggest weapon in the Dr Martens Western championship race.

Reds boss Rod Brown has confirmed that the giant 6ft 7ins striker is training at The Valley Stadium after revealing last week he's in the hunt to sign a big name.

Francis, who has had spells with Blues, Derby County and Stockport, certainly fits the bill but Brown insists that the big man will have to win his fitness battle first - before potentially making him a valuable addition to the United squad.

The 35-year-old frontman, who once played for Reds as a youngster, left Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Hednesford Town during the summer after failing to recover from a knee injury. He has since been working hard to regain his fitness and has linked up with the table-topping Reds through ex-Hednesford man and close pal Matt Gardiner.

Brown told Advertiser Sport: "He's training with us at the moment and has shown great interest in the club. But at the moment, the main focus is on getting him fit and we'll then see where we go from there.

"I have to say he's a mile away at the moment and certainly no deal will be done before he can prove his fitness.

"But what I will say is that if he can do that, nobody would be able to touch him at this level. His experience and talent make him a class apart."

Francis cost Blues £800,000 when he signed from Stockport County in 1995 and he went on to make more than 50 appearances at St Andrew's before moving to Oxford United three years later. His 12-year professional career has also seen him in an Exeter and Hull City shirt with the last two seasons spent at Hednesford.

"He's a lovely guy to have around," added Brown. "He's played for a lot of big clubs but he's certainly not a prima donna."

Meanwhile, United hope to have Gary Knight back for Saturday's clash with Mangotsfield United. The centre back fell ill just 24 hours before United's 2-0 league win at Taunton last Saturday. Lee Ross, though, will be loaned out to Racing Warwick on a match basis in a bid to get him more first-team action under his belt.