FOREST Green Rovers have signed former Southend United youngster Isaac Hutchinson on loan until the end of the season from Derby County.

The 20-year-old, who made 40 appearances for Blues, joined the Rams in October and made his debut for Derby in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Chorley after their first-team squad suffered a coronavirus outbreak.

But Hutchinson will now swap under-23 football for League Two and cannot wait to get started.

“I’m really excited," Hutchinson told the club's website. 

"As soon as I heard of the opportunity to join the club, I was buzzing to get the move done.

“I spoke to the head coach (Mark Cooper) and loved everything that he had to say.

"In the under-23s league, you don’t get to play week in, week out – so I am really excited to start playing regularly.”

Hutchinson could also face the Shrimpers during his loan spell with Mark Molesley's side due to visit the New Lawn in late February.