Gateshead Bring in Loan Centre-Back

....Alex Whitmore on loan from Sky Bet Championship side Burnley until the end of the season.

Whitmore has already acquired loan experience with one National League club this term, having spent the last month with Steve Burr’s Chester FC.

The 20-year-old could be in line to make his debut for the Heed against Barrow at the International Stadium today.

From the North East originally, Whitmore joined the Clarets as a first-year scholar in 2012, and signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2014/15 campaign.

He has already figured on Tyneside once this season, having played 90 minutes for the Blues in their 1-0 defeat at the end of November.

Whitmore becomes Neil Aspin’s second loan signing since taking charge, the boss pleased to strengthen at the back. He said: “I needed a centre-half.

“The lads who are playing at the back at the moment have really been picking themselves, and they haven’t had a lot of competition.

“With Ben Clark and James Curtis both being in their 30s, and pace not being their biggest attribute, I feel we need to bring in someone a little younger and more mobile.

“And, that’s what I feel I’ve done.”