FORMER Gillingham midfielder Nicky Southall joined Norwich today on a three-month loan from Bolton.

Southall will make his debut for the Carrow Road club at Preston on Saturday. Norwich are refusing to say whether or not the move is with a view to a permanent signing.

The news comes as a huge disappointment to injury-hit Gillingham whose request to bring the player back to Priestfield for a three- month loan was rejected 24 hours earlier by Bolton manager Sam Allardyce.

The Bolton boss had earlier stated that his club's injury problems made it impossible for him to release any players and that Southall was wanted for next week’s Worthington Cup tie against Bury. He had said: “If Gillingham want Nicky they will have to buy him.”