Packwood & Henshall Join

Birmingham City defender Will Packwood and Manchester City winger Alex Henshall have joined Rovers on initial one month loans today and go straight into the squad for Saturday's game with Wycombe Wanderers.

Will Packwood - Lifted from: bcfc.com

Manager John Ward has been looking to strengthen his squad this week, with the left wing having been a long-time problem area and the defence looking threadbare given Mark McChrystal's knee injury. Packwood links up with Rovers after Birmingham were eventually persuaded to let him out on loan and Henshall joins from Man City's Elite Development Squad and is originally from the West Country having joined the Premier League club from Swindon Town.

Packwood stands at 6 ft 3 and is a right footed centre half, meaning that if he partners Tom Parkes on Saturday there will be a natural balance. Born in America, the 20 year old made his breakthrough into Brum's first team early last season, before suffering a nasty leg break in an appearance early this calendar year. Lee Clark rates him very highly and was reluctant to let him out on loan but finally agreed when Rovers accepted their request not to use him in the FA Cup first round in a few weeks' time. His first interview after joining portrays him as a well-spoken, confident young man and he was by no means dismissive of enjoying an extended stay at the Mem should things go well in the first month.

Alex Henshall - Lifted from: mcfc.co.uk

Henshall, on the other hand, seemed a little more reserved in his interview but was understandably delighted to move out on loan for a taste of first team football. He left Swindon at the age of 16 when City came calling and he has since impressed for their academy sides as well as their EDS team this year. He has trained alongside City's superstars in the last few months and I'm sure that he will have learnt a lot from their midfield maestros. The impressionable teenager has previously cited that Adam Johnson was who he based his game upon (before he left City for Sunderland) and that he would love to play like Gareth Bale has done for the last couple of years.

They will give everyone, both supporters and players, a huge lift ahead of the Wycombe test and I wouldn't bet against at least one of them starting the game.

Welcome lads and good luck.