WEYMOUTH have snapped up goalkeeper Joe Wollacott on an initial one-month loan deal from Bristol City in time for tomorrow's clash at Arlesey Town.

The young gloveman, who will go directly into Jason Matthews’ first-team squad to face the Blues, is a second-year scholar with the Robins, having been a part of the academy at Ashton Gate since the age of 14.

Wollacott will provide cover for player-manager Matthews, who is now struggling with a groin problem as well as a thigh injury.

Commenting on the capture of his loan recruit, the Weymouth boss told Echosport: “He is highly thought of at Bristol City and is big, tall and athletic.

“I have good friends at Bristol City and I know the goalkeeping coach very well there who coached me.

“I’d like to thank Bristol City and it’s nice to have good relations with a big club like that.

“It gives me a chance to recover from an injury I have suffered with for a couple of games now.”

On his own injury concerns, he added: “My groin has gone really tight as well as my thigh, I think I may have overcompensated or something.

“It’s a case of monitoring it and I need to see Sophie our physio. It also gives me a chance to have a look at the team from the sidelines.

“It will probably be the first time I have had the chance to do that in what is a competitive league game. I can’t really tell you how I will react, but I will try to show all my passion from the touchline.”

Weymouth, who have suffered six away defeats since the turn of the year, will also be without midfielder and player-coach Chris McPhee, who is ruled out of the encounter with a back injury.

Matthews added: “Chris is going to miss out tomorrow, he has a back problem. That’s a blow for us because we miss his experience when he doesn’t play.”

A Stewart Yetton brace alongside Alec Fiddes’ strike gave Weymouth a 3-0 victory against the Blues back in December.