BURY have signed Rotherham United goalkeeper Scott Loach on loan until January 17.

The 26-year-old stopper goes straight into the squad for tomorrow’s night’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area quarter-final tie at home to Tranmere.

He will provide competition for Bury’s two senior keepers Rob Lainton – the current number one – and Shwan Jalal, who has fallen down the pecking order since his summer arrival from Bournemouth and was missing from the squad for Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Hemel Hempstead Town.

Loach started his career at championship side Watford, where he spent three seasons as their first-choice keeper and was called up to England’s Under-21s squad.

He left to join Ipswich in the summer of 2012, making 25 appearances in his first season, before signing a two-year deal with the Millers at the end of the last campaign.

Game time has been restricted to just four senior appearances this season.

Loach becomes the club’s fourth loan player, joining Everton striker Courtney Duffus, Rochdale full-back Tom Kennedy and Bolton defender Hayden White.