Martin Ling is delighted to be reunited with defender Brian Saah, a player he has worked with since he was 16 and who has played almost 100 matches for Leyton Orient.

The 22-year-old played under Ling in League Two and One and joins on a free transfer after being released at the end of last season.

"Since I've been here I've been saying we have too many midfielders and not enough defenders, especially in the centre half area, and Brian solves that problem," Ling told cambridgeunited.com

"We now have three centre halves and during the season you need three to be able to compete. That's no slight on Hatswell and Coulson, it's just a necessity that you have numbers in the right places and that's not how we were set up previously."

Having worked with Saah as he progressed through the youth and reserve teams at Orient, where he made his first team debut at the age of 16, Ling knows his new man well and is delighted to have persuaded him to become his first signing.

"He's played all his football in League Two and League One and he's been trialing at League One clubs this summer, but he's one of the players who been left on the outside this summer because of the credit crunch," said the U's boss.

"He's more than capable of League Two and League One football but hasn't managed to find himself a club because of their cutbacks, so Brian's come to Cambridge to work hard and relaunch his career in the right way.  He'll be a good addition to the squad."

Describing his new number 5 and the qualities he brings to the club, he said, "He's a centre back who has also played centre midfield in his career as well, so although I'm bringing him in mainly as a centre back it's always good to have flexibility within a small squad and he can play in centre midfield if needed.

"He's athletic, he's good in the air, he's a good passer, he will add pace and strength to our defensive unit, and he's someone I've known since he was a 16-year-old kid so I know his character inside out and out."

Ling also confirmed that his new signing is fit and ready to play: "He's trained with clubs and played games this pre-season and his agent has a place where his out-of-contract players work while they're not with clubs, so his fitness levels are good and he's ready to go straight into the squad."

Brian has been allocated squad number 5.

[Defender Saah Signs for United]

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