WANDERERS boss Gareth Ainsworth said he has greater clout in the transfer market thanks to his side's good start to the season - revealing he beat competition from Championship sides to sign Hogan Ephraim.

With Blues sitting pretty in second in League Two, Ainsworth found in easier to persuade his former QPR team mate Ephraim to join the club despite interest from clubs higher up the football ladder.

The forward, who represented England at four different youth levels, this week penned a deal with Wanderers until the end of the season.

Ainsworth said: "If you're sitting bottom of League Two, it's totally different the players you can attract when you're top. Everyone wants to play as high as they can. The better the position of the club, the more chance they have of signing players.

"It's great to be able to talk to players as a club sat around the good end of League Two."

Ephraim, 26, played as a trialist for Blues against Chesham United in pre-season but Ainsworth had to play the long game before finally landing his man.

The Blues boss said: "I spoke to Hogan throughout the summer. There were some big clubs in for him - he nearly signed for Reading; Leyton Orient and Millwall were sniffing. We're talking Championship clubs.

"I knew he's going to try and get the best he possibly can for himself but sometimes things get promised to players that don't come off.

"It's great to be able to bring him in and I'm sure he's going to put some magic on the pitch."

Ephraim, who can play up front or on the wing, was released by Rangers in the summer after six years at the club.

He played 95 times for the Hoops and had loan spells at five other clubs, including a stint at Toronto in the MLS.

Ainsworth said: "He's going to need some sharpness and Hogan admits that. He hasn't played a first team game for a good few months.

"He's not one who puts on weight, he's a fit lad, he's two footed. I know he will cause problems. He's looking good in training now but I've seen him at his absolute best and I know what he can do.

"I think people are going to have to be patient with Hogan to see the best of him.

"It's my decision when that will be and when he starts games for us, but it could possibly be an addition to the squad on Saturday."