Yorke has joined Birmingham City

ROVERS moved quickly to replace one striker with another as the transfer window closed last night.

Former England youth international Jay Bothroyd has joined from Italian club Perugia on loan to the end of the season, with Rovers securing an option to make the deal permanent at a fixed price.

Islington-born Jay is a product of the immensely successful Arsenal youth system. He left the Gunners for Coventry City in July 2000 and was top scorere for the Sky Blues before transferring to Perugia.

Tall and quick, the 22 year-old scored 10 goals for the struggling Italian side last season when he was the only Englishman playing in Serie A.

Meanwhile, Dwight Yorke, once of Aston Villa, has returned to the Midlands, joining Premiership rivals Birmingham City on a 12 month contract, with an option to extend another year. A small, undisclosed fee was exchanged with performance-related add-ons.

Late yesterday, the 32 year-old had been expected to join Celtic but shortly before the transfer window was set to close, opted for the Blues. He joined Rovers from Manchester United in July 2002, making 54 starts in all competitions and scoring 19 goals.

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