WANDERERS have completed the signing of Aston Villa defender Chris Herd on a one-month loan.

As revealed yesterday by The Bolton News, the 25-year-old has signed a short-term deal and will be eligible for tomorrow night’s Captial One Cup game at Chelsea.

Australia international Herd can play across the back four but is likely to make his bow at right-back, with Kevin McNaughton still short of full match fitness after a bout of illness.

Freedman is pleased to bring the Villa youth graduate on board, and believes his versatility will be an asset in a congested fixture schedule through the rest of September and early October.

“With the small squad we have got, I need to make sure when I sign a player that they can play one or two different positions,” he said.

“Chris ticks that box. He’s going to be very valuable in a difficult run of games.”