Margate manager Nikki Bull has bolstered his squad with a loan signing from Colchester United.

Bull has brought in 19-year-old winger Dion Sembie-Ferris from the League 1 side. He is eligible for the Vanarama National League South game at Wealdstone on Saturday and will remain at Hartsdown until the end of the campaign.

Sembie-Ferris was a youngster at Peterborough United but drifted into non-league football before signing for Colchester in November 2103.

He has made 21 first team appearances for the Us, starting three times but has not figured since Kevin Keen was appointed manager in December.

Gate boss Bull had said there would be no signings for the rest of the season, but has managed to free up some of his budget to secure Sembie-Ferris.

It is believed he has acted to strengthen his squad in the likely event striker Freddie Ladapo moves to Barclays Premier League club Crystal Palace.

The 23-year-old was today in talks with the Eagles with some sources suggesting the deal has already been done.

Bull, whose team have lost their last five league matches, declined to comment on the Ladapo speculation.

Defender Jake Goodman and midfielder Lewis Taylor are both suspended for the Wealdstone trip but right-back Glenn Wilson returns after serving a one-game ban.

The fixture will be Gate's first since owner Bob Laslett stepped down as chairman in favour of director John Webb. The Blues are 12th, nine points off the relegation zone with seven matches remaining.

They host Concord Rangers at Hartsdown Park on Easter Monday (3pm).