WANDERERS have allowed development squad midfielder Marcus Wood to join Southport on loan.

The 20-year-old joins the Conference North club until January 2 after impressing during a behind-closed-doors friendly against Huddersfield Town.

The combative former Manchester City midfielder earned a one-year professional deal after a good summer with David Lee’s Under-23s and has featured nine times this season.

Southport boss Liam Watson said: “We’re really excited to attract a player of Marcus’ quality, he’s a young lad with enormous talent and we’re delighted he’s signed.”

“We’d like to thank Bolton for helping to make this deal happen and for allowing him to feature for us in the FA Cup.

“We’re still looking to strengthen the squad. We’ve highlighted a number of players who we want to add, Marcus being one of them, and we’re thrilled to have signed him.”