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Saints can confirm that 20 year old winger Jake Thomson has moved out on loan to Torquay United.

The one month loan deal will see Thomson join up with Saints goalkeeper Michael Poke, who is already on loan with the Gulls.

Thomson has made just 5 substitute appearances this season, the last of which came in the 0-0 draw at home to Colchester in early September.

Since then, the Academy graduate has spent time on International duty with Trinidad and Tobago, first representing them in the FIFA Under 20 World Cup, and then earning 2 full international caps in games against Costa Rica and Mexico in the World Cup qualifiers.

Saints will be hoping that the loan spell allows Thomson to get back into his stride by gaining some match fitness, and with Torquay struggling at the foot of League Two, the youngster is set for a tough challenge.


Second Saint joins Gulls on loan
Herald Express


A YEAR-LONG campaign to prise young winger Jake Thomson away from Southampton has finally paid off for Torquay United.

Thomson, 20, signed an initial one-month 'emergency' loan deal and trained with his new Gulls teammates for the first time yesterday.

The plan is for the loan to be extended at the end of next month and, possibly, for the move to become permanent in the January Transfer Window.

"We first watched Jake and made inquiries about him last year," said United manager Paul Buckle.

"We tried to get him again earlier in the season, and Southampton were reluctant to let him go.

"So I'm delighted that we've got him at last.

"Jake has very good pace, and he has a goal in him."

Saints Academy graduate Thomson is a former England Under-17 international who, through his father's origins, has now opted to play for Trinidad & Tobago.

He has already appeared for them in the Under-20 World Cup and was called up to the senior squad for the Soca Warriors' last two World Cup 2010 qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico.

Thomson, who's a contemporary of ex-Saints starlets Theo Walcott (Arsenal) and Gareth Bale (Spurs), has made seven starts and nine substitute appearances for Southampton.

He joins fellow Saints loanee Michael Poke in the United squad.

"I know Michael well, and he's told me good things about the club and the squad," said Thomson.

"I'm told that the team maybe needs a little input of pace, and that's one of my best assets.

"I know League Two, because I was on loan at Bournemouth last season - I played six games for them, scored one and set up four goals - so it won't be a shock to me.

"And the next game here is against Northampton — I played for Saints against them in the League Cup this season, and we beat them 2-0."

United have only two fit wingers available at the moment, in Wayne Carlisle and Danny Stevens.

Marvin Williams looks set to end his short-term contract with the club when he recovers from a knee problem.

Meanwhile, Stevenage manager Graham Westley has repeated that he would like to renew United player Michael Brough's loan.

"We weren't able to agree an extension to the loan (last week), but the clubs are still talking," he said.

"I think there is potential that we could agree an extension, but nothing has been agreed at the moment."

Brough, who missed Borough's FA Cup win at Chelmsford at the weekend, is currently back with United.

League Two rivals Notts County have appointed Swede Hans Backe as their new manager.

Backe, who succeeds the recently sacked Ian McParland, is the former assistant of County's Director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City and Mexico.