Thomson extends Torquay stay

EXCITING Southampton winger Jake Thomson has extended his loan stay at Torquay United into a second month.

Trinidad & Tobago international Thomson will be available for selection until December 28, including that day's south-coast derby at Bournemouth.

Portsmouth-born Thomson, 20, was in Paul Buckle's squad that made a wasted weekend trip to Stockport County for their FA Cup second-round tie, postponed following an 11am pitch inspection of waterlogged Edgeley Park.

The tie has now been rescheduled for Tuesday, December 8 (7.45pm).

Buckle said: "I was just heading over for the pitch inspection when I got the call that the game was off.

"Obviously we are disappointed because we always want to play – and it's the FA Cup and we were all really looking forward to it."

Buckle and his squad headed back south, with the manager already switching his focus to tomorrow night's home League Two game against Cheltenham Town.

The United boss said: "We will get the journey out of our legs by training on Sunday and will be back in training again on Monday in preparation for the Cheltenham game."

Buckle's squad is set to be boosted by a whole raft of returning personnel for tomorrow night's game at Plainmoor (7.45pm).

Striker Chris Zebroski, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, and goalkeeper Michael Poke, on loan from Southampton, will both be back in contention for the Gulls.

The paur were ruled out of Saturday's tie as Zebroski is cup-tied having featured for Wanderers in the first round while Southampton – who progressed 3-2 at Northampton Town – do not want Poke cup-tied.

Poke's recall to his parent club, following an injury to the Saints, number one Kelvin Davis, did not transpire as Southampton have two goalkeepers as cover in their first-team squad: Polish international Bartosz Bialkowski and Tommy Forecast.

Bialkowski played in goal at Northampton on Saturday, with Forecast on the bench as cover.

Poke now remains at Plainmoor until his loan is up for review at the start of January, by which time it is hoped that Davis will be back to full fitness.

Torquay's squad – who are seeking to complete a hat-trick over Cheltenham after knocking them out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and FA Cup earlier this season – is also set to be boosted by the return of winger Danny Stevens, should he pass fit, although central defender Kieran Charnock will now miss out through suspension.

Stevens was instrumental in Torquay's 3-1 first round Trophy win at Whaddon Road, where he scored twice in a first half dominated by the Gulls.

Midfielder Nicky Wroe scored all three goals in United's 3-1 FA Cup win over the Robins, who hover tantalisingly three points above United in the League Two table.

Torquay stay third from bottom in League Two following Macclesfield Town's goalless draw with second from bottom Grimsby. United have a game in hand on Grimsby, who are two points behind the Gulls.

United central defender Chris Todd, who has just joined Salisbury City on loan until January, was sent off after receiving a second caution in the Whites' 1-0 home Blue Square Premier defeat to Stevenage Borough on Saturday.