Albion centre-half Glen Rea is on the verge of completing a loan move to Southend until the beginning of January.

Southend boss Phil Brown said tonight: "The deal is more or less done and I’m very happy because I think Glen is different class."

Rea, 20, made his first senior appearance in Albion's Capital One Cup win at Southend last month.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international impressed in Tuesday's exit from the competition at Walsall, watched by Southend's football co-ordinator and former Albion manager and captain Brian Horton.

Brown added: "Obviously he played against us in the Capital One Cup but I had seen him a few times before that as well and really liked we I saw.

“He’s a fantastic addition to our squad.”