HARRIERS have snapped up Redditch United striker Jamie Spencer and former Birmingham City forward Akwasi Asante.

Spencer, 21, joinsfrom the Reds until the end of the season.

The striker is a product of the Coventry City academy and has previously played for Alvechurch and Rushall Olympic.

Former Birmingham City striker Asante has also signed until the end of the season.

The 22-year-old Dutchman, who moved to England as a youngster, made his first-team debut for Blues in a Europa League play-off game against Nacional in 2011.

Asante also went out on loan to Northampton Town in January 2012 and Shrewsbury Town in March and July 2013.

After signing a new one-year contract at St Andrews in the summer of 2013, injuries disrupted his progress, and he was released by Birmingham at the end of last season.

Manager Gary Whild said: “Jamie is a young lad who we’ve been aware of for a while,” Whild said.

“He’s a goalscorer and has played a lot at local level, similar to some of the lads who we’ve brought here before.

“Jamie has got a little bit about him too - he understands the game well for a young lad.

“We’d like to give him the opportunity to come in and hopefully fulfil the potential that we see in him - it’s what we’ve done before and it’s worked out well for both the club and the players themselves.

“He hasn’t featured too much for Redditch this season but every time he’s got on the pitch he’s scored, so hopefully he can come here and do well.”

On Asante, Whild continued: “Akwasi is in a different situation.

“He was highly thought-of at the Blues and in and around their first team, but he has had a poor time with niggling injuries and has found himself out of the game, as can happen in football.

“He’s got the hunger and desire to come in and try and rediscover where he was 18 months ago, when he was on the edge of a Championship club’s first team.

“He’s another lad who has got an eye for goal and he has scored in League One and League Two where he’s been out on loan at Shrewsbury and Northampton.

“For a 22-year-old he has played a lot of football at a good level.

“He’s over his injuries now so we’re hoping that he can help us and we can help him hopefully get himself back on track.

“Akwasi thinks it’s the right place for him to try and get himself up and running again; what we’ve seen of him and what we know he’s capable of means that we could have a good find on our hands.

“He is good friends with Jamille Matt, which worked in our favour as Jamma has told him a little bit about the club and what I’m about, and he knows Ahmed Obeng too.

“I think he’s been impressed with what he’s seen and he likes the lads and likes what we are trying to do.

“For him it’s not about the money - everyone knows our status in terms of that.

“He hasn’t come here for his wage, he’s come here to roll his sleeves up and have a go.”