DERBY County have completed the signing of highly rated Sunderland striker Ryan Noble.
The 20-year-old has signed on a month-long loan deal and he will go straight into manager Nigel Clough’s squad for Saturday’s Championship game at Burnley.
The Rams boss took Noble on loan last season, but a back injury cut short his spell at Pride Park after a single appearance as a substitute.
Clough is hoping the youngster makes an impact as the Rams battle for a place in the Championship play-offs.
He said: “When Ryan arrived last season we labelled him as a striker with a good reputation for scoring goals, and his form in recent months for Sunderland’s reserves suggests he hasn’t lost his touch.
“He has scored a hat-trick against Scunthorpe United, four against Manchester United and also found the net against Arsenal inside the last month, so he certainly arrives here in very good form.
“Ryan will provide another option for us up front and he’s coming into a squad brimming with confidence, creating chances and scoring goals, so it’s as good a time as any to be joining us.
“We like Ryan, he’s a very good player and he can get goals, so it’s great to have him on board and I’d like to thank Martin O’Neill and Sunderland for agreeing to loan him out to us.”
Sunderland-born Noble is a product of their highly regarded Academy system and he made his first-team bow for the
Black Cats in the 2009/10 FA Cup, replacing England forward Darren Bent in their 3-0 win over Barrow.
He also spent time on loan at Watford during that season as part of his football development.
Noble arrives at Pride Park just as winger Lee Croft looks set for a move north of the border.
Croft is expected to link up with Scottish Premier League outfit St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.
Clough said: “It is an opportunity for Lee to go and get some games with a view to doing something in the summer.”
