Micky Mellon, manager of Blue Square Bet Premier club Fleetwood Town, has brought Tranmere Rovers prospect Andy Coughlin to Highbury as back-up to Scott Davies.

Danny Hurst started the campaign as first choice for Fleetwood but remains a minimum of six weeks away from a return following his August shoulder injury sustained at Crawley Town.

Current number two Craig Dootson is nearing the end of his ninety-three-day loan period and will return to Harrogate Town early in December.

The ‘emergency loan’ transfer window closed this week and teams will not be able to make any additions to their squads until the January transfer window opens.

With that in mind Mellon needed a keeper with good credentials.

“Andy is a very good young goalkeeper who Tranmere rate very highly. He’ll provide cover for Scott Davies whilst Danny Hurst is still recovering.

“We need a minimum of two goalkeepers and, with the deadline this week; we needed to make sure someone was brought in. We’re delighted to have young Andy on board.”

Coughlin has built a good reputation at Tranmere, where Mellon and his goalkeeping coach saw Football League action. The young keeper was named on the Rovers substitutes' bench in 2009/10 for the game at Exeter following an injury to their first-team keeper and has also featured in the reserve team. 

“Andy is a player who they rate very highly. If it wasn’t for the relationship we have with Tranmere then we might not have got him. I’d like to thank them for the loan and we’ll certainly make sure he enjoys his stay with us.

“It’s important to use, and maintain, your connections in the game. All clubs need help through-out the season and we are no exception.”

The 17-year-old joins Town on `work experience` terms and took part in his first training session on Thursday.

“I’m looking forward to joining Eric on the training pitch and seeing how he works and how it’s different to what we do at Tranmere. Eric had a few hundred appearances at Prenton Park and that’s my aim as well.

“It will be good to see how Scott works and push him to see if I can get a game. I know he’s playing well so that will be a challenge to me as well," said Coughlin.