Nationwide Conference side Cambridge United have secured the loan services of young Derby County defender James Meredith.

Meredith is comfortable either as a left-back or left-sided midfielder and signed a two year professional contract in June this year.

Meredith travelled with the senior squad on their pre-season trip to Austria and scored in the win over FC Gratkorn, where he was one of only two players to be given a full 90-minute appearance.

He is eligible to play against Oxford United on Friday evening and has been allocated squad number 29.

Meanwhile, Cambridge have another Australian joining their ranks with news that Geoff Peck has been appointed as their new Finance Director.

This follows Nick Pomery's resignation at the end of August and the Oxfordshire-based accountant comes with a ringing endorsement from Chairman Lee Power.

"I've known Geoff for five or six years through horse racing and he's very highly-respected in that industry," Power told the club's official website.

"He's been accountant to Barry Hills, who's one of the top trainers in the country, for twelve years, and that's how I met him.

"Football is an area he would like to spread his wings into, and although on a daily basis he will continue to work with Barry he's agreed to take up the position of Finance Director at Cambridge United as a favour for me."