Aldershot Town have signed Portsmouth defender Danny East and York City striker Ryan Jarvis on loan.
23 year-old East, who has joined The Shots until 9 February, is primarily a right-back but can also play at left-back or in central midfield, whilst dynamic forward Jarvis has signed for the rest of the season.
“It was vital that we brought players in that can play in several positions,” explained manager Andy Scott. “Danny has had his injury problems but he’s been back in training for six weeks and needs some game time. He’s certainly fit enough to be involved in first-team football and he wants to play here.”
On Jarvis, Scott also said: “I’ve known Ryan for a long time, I coached him at Leyton Orient and he did very well there. He broke into Norwich City’s first-team at the age of 16, and that shows the quality that he’s got. As a team we needed a focal point, to retain the ball better and allow our other forwards to work off somebody who is a genuine number nine. He’s an experienced player, is a good finisher and was really keen to come here.
“We’ll benefit from these two signings and I’m really pleased with these two deals. We’ve got the capacity to bring in others, we’re probably still looking to fill two positions, and we’ve got a few irons in the fire.”
Having begun his career with local Yorkshire side Hessle Sporting, East progressed into the Hull City Academy and eventually spent 10 years with the Club. Signing his first professional contract in 2010, he went on to make his first-team debut for The Tigers in August 2011, before enjoying loan spells at Northampton Town and Gillingham. Released by Hull City in the summer of 2013, East joined Portsmouth on the same day as former Hull City team-mate and Shots loanee Sonny Bradley. During 2013-14 he made 19 appearances for Pompey, but has missed the first half of 2014-15 with an ankle injury.
28 year-old Jarvis already boasts over 350 games in a career which has seen him play in the Premier League with Norwich City – for whom he scored against Liverpool – and in the Scottish Premier League for Kilmarnock. He went on to score 20 goals in 75 starts in two spells with Leyton Orient in League One. Following spells with Northampton Town and Walsall, Jarvis scored nine goals in 28 starts for Torquay United during 2012-13 and, last season, notched nine goals in 25 starts for The Minstermen.
East will wear shirt number 15, whilst Jarvis has taken number 17.
