Hamilton have completed the signing of former Brighton striker Leon Knight.

The 26-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Chelsea and also starred for Swansea and Wycombe, joins on a free transfer until the end of the season after his contract expired at Greek side Thrasivoulos Filis.

Knight will go straight into the Accies squad for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game with Aberdeen.

After failing to make the grade at Stamford Bridge, Knight was sold in 2003 to Brighton, where he netted 36 goals in 110 starts.

He was offloaded to Swansea in January 2006 after falling out with then-Albion manager Mark McGhee.

Despite scoring an impressive 19 goals in 25 starts for the Welsh club, he was soon on his way out after then-boss Kenny Jackett questioned his attitude.

Moves to MK Dons, Wycombe and Rushden followed before his six-month spell in Greece.

Knight is Hamilton boss Billy Reid's 11th summer signing and his arrival could hasten the departure of fellow forward Richard Offiong, who the club are prepared to sell.

Reid decided to offer a contract to Knight after watching him score twice in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dundee United this week.

He told BBC Scotland: "Leon's a guy with a big pedigree. He's scored goals for every club he's been at."

And Reid was unfazed by the player's bad-boy reputation, which saw him sacked by Rushden last year for "continuous breaches of conduct".

"He has a reputation of a bit of a bad lad," Reid added. "But he's now 26 and we've given him an opportunity to play at the top level in Scotland.

"We're hoping that Leon can settle down. I've got every faith in his ability; that's never been in question.

"But it's up to him now to show and prove to everybody that he is a decent striker and can score goals at a high level."

With such a huge turnover of players this summer, Hamilton's opening-day defeat at Kilmarnock came as little surprise.

But Reid believes he saw enough at Rugby Park to indicate his new-look side were starting to gel.

"I thought they knitted together well first half; I thought first half we were excellent and could have been a couple of goals up," said Reid, who will still be without some key men through injury and suspension tomorrow.

"Most teams in the SPL can't afford key players out and we've got key players out at the moment."

There are real parallels between Accies' plight and that of Aberdeen, who have struggled to replace departed and injured players, especially in defence.

Mark McGhee's men have shipped 11 goals in three competitive games already this season.

Reid told Press Association Sport: "I think they'll be the first to admit they're probably a bit off, much in the same mould as us.

"With key players missing in key areas, I don't care who you are in the SPL, you're going to struggle."