GILLINGHAM boss Ronnie Jepson has made his third loan signing of the past fortnight.

Crewe Alexandra’s Justin Cochrane has followed in the footsteps of Crystal Palace’s Tommy Black who scored his first goal for the club on Saturday and Irish under-21 striker Gary Mulligan.

Cochrane has penned a one-month deal and is known as a tough tackling midfielder with a knack of playing killer passes forward.

He will go straight into the team for Saturday's home game against Tranmere Rovers and will be available for six matches finishing with the away trip to Nottingham Forest on March 11.

Jepson said: "He’s a good youngster who has been schooled well at Crewe under Dario (Grady).

"We’re a bit thin on the ground in the middle of the park at the moment with Michael Pouton and Alan Pouton suspended."

Defender Ian Cox is also serving a ban and Jepson said: "Tranmere are a good side and are in a false position in the table (10th) if you look at the players they have.

"Our home form had a dip against Rotherham. We were poor and were lucky to have got a point, but teams now come to us and play tighter than they perhaps used to.

"We are not the finished article as a side but we are making improvements slowly and steadily."