Luke Pearce signs on loan for Torquay United

Torquay United have gone back to Southampton for their second loan signing of the season, taking young Saints forward Luke Pearce on an initial one-month deal.

The Gulls had promising defender Nico Lawrence, also 19, on a successful loan last season, and now manager Gary Johnson has bolstered his attacking options by bringing in Eire Under-19 cap Pearce.

The former Walsall starlet, 5ft 10in tall, scored six goals in 17 games on loan at Torquay’s NL South rivals Eastbourne Borough last season.

He’s also featured impressively in Southampton’s Premier League Two side.

Pearce is set to be included in the United squad for Saturday’s league game at Aveley, who play on a similar 3G artificial pitch to the one that Eastbourne use.