FORMER Wanderers midfielder Jem Karacan has signed for League Two side Scunthorpe.

The 31-year-old has agreed a deal until the end of the season at the Sands Venue Stadium having been a free agent since leaving Australian club Central Coast Mariners.

He has been training with the Iron since November in order to build up his fitness.

Karacan made 23 appearances for Wanderers in all competitions and scored two goals, having joined the club after leaving Galatasaray.

The London-born player, who began his career with Reading, next moved onto Millwall. He has also had loan spells with Bournemouth and Bursaspor.

Scunthorpe, managed by another former Wanderer in Neil Cox, are currently 20th in the table, three points above the relegation zone, following Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Stevenage.

Elsewhere, former Bolton youngster Rhys Bennett has extended his stay at Carlisle until the end of the season.

Radcliffe-born Bennett, 29, joined the Cumbrians in November and has scored three goals in 13 appearances as Chris Beech’s side have climbed to the top of League Two.

Beech said: "I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’d have brought Rhys in as soon as I could, and that he had higher level plates spinning, but I thought the aptitude he’s demonstrated has set the standard from what we all now expect from him.”

Bennett had made more than 300 career appearances at Falkirk, Rochdale, Mansfield and Peterborough before joining Carlisle.