Friday 17 February 2012 12:40, UK
Colchester have signed highly-rated West Ham striker Freddie Sears on a month-long emergency loan.
U's boss John Ward has hailed the deal as a 'coup' for the club. Sears previously enjoyed loan spells at Scunthorpe, Coventry and Crystal Palace, earning a call-up to Stuart Pearce's England Under-21 squad in the process. Ward brought the 22-year-old in to replace Gavin Massey, who returned to parent club Watford, and subject to paperwork Sears will be available to play in Colchester's match at Yeovil on Saturday. "With Gavin [Massey] having gone back to Watford we moved quickly to get Freddie [Sears] in," Ward told the club's official website. "Freddie has been at different clubs in the Championship and he has also played in the Premier League and we feel it is a bit of a coup to get him in and play for us. "He was very happy to come here. There was interest from elsewhere, but he has decided to come to us."