SOUTHEND United have completed the loan signing of Wigan Athletic defender Rob Kiernan.

As was revealed in Friday’s Echosport, the 22-year-old centre-back will spend the next three months with the Shrimpers.

And Kiernan has been signed in time to make his debut at Burton Albion this afternoon.

Kiernan, who has previously been on loan at seven clubs including Bradford City, Yeovil and Burton, is expected to go straight in to the starting line up.

With Luke Prosser suspended and Adam Thompson away with Northern Ireland’s under 21 team, Blues are currently short of centre-backs.

And they were given permission by the Football League to bring in Kiernan despite still being under a transfer embargo,