Torquay United manager Martin Ling has moved to bolster his attacking options by signing former Norwich City starlet Ryan Jarvis on loan from Walsall.
Ryan started his career with the Canaries and represented England at youth level before he first came into contact with Ling during a loan spell with Leyton Orient, where he scored six goals in 14 games.
"We were struggling in the league and he had a great impact on us."said Ling. "He scored lots of goals very quickly and set us up for the rest of the season."
"It was actually six goals from 14 games and we would happily take that return in the final 14 games of our season.
“He then went back to Norwich and they wanted big money for him, more than we had. His career has meandered a bit since then. He has England credentials and it hasn't materialised how he hoped. He was at Orient again last season and has been at Walsall this season.
"He hasn't really found a home but I've worked with him, and my best mate, Dean Smith, is manager at Walsall, and he feels Ryan needs a fresh environment."
Ryan, whose brother, Rossi Jarvis, also had a loan spell with the Gulls during the 2006-07 season, will remain at Plainmoor until the end of the season.
Since playing under Ling at Leyton Orient, Ryan later joined the East London side on a permanent basis after experiencing further loan spells with Kilmarnock and Notts County.
He joined Walsall at the start of this season and the Gulls boss also stated that he believes that Ryan will give the Gulls fresh options in attack, following Billy Bodin's return to Swindon.
Ling said: "He will be with us for three months and has everything that we need to join the front three of our squad. When Billy Kee left, we replaced him with Billy Bodin but we've not replaced Bodin since he left.
"The squad has managed to make up for Billy's absence but when I've looked behind me to the bench in the last couple of games I've felt we needed another attacking option.
"Ryan will be that attacking option and will put pressure on the front three. He adds competition to the front three berths and he can play any position in that front three."
Jarvis will go straight into the Gulls squad for their trip to Crawley Town tomorrow.
