Ryan Jarvis joins Torquay on loan

Walsall striker Ryan Jarvis today joined Torquay on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old scored just three goals in 25 games for the Saddlers since a free transfer from Leyton Orient last summer.

He made nine League One starts and hadn't scored since August – the Saddlers' 2-1 Johnstone's Paint Trophy win over Shrewsbury.

Jarvis now links up with his former Orient manager Martin Ling at the League Two Gulls, who brought him to Brisbane Road when Saddlers boss Dean Smith was his No.2.

Smith, who takes his troops to Orient on Saturday, said: "It's not gone as well as we would have liked for Ryan and I still think he's a good player. He wasn't a fans' favourite here and he's going to go to Torquay to hopefully do something in their promotion drive.

"He's tried really hard and he's looked fantastic in training but when he's gone into games it hasn't worked.

"He had a really good start with two goals at Bournemouth and followed it up against Shrewsbury but he went a few games without scoring and his confidence took a hit.

"Maybe it was wrong fit, wrong time."

Jarvis' contract expires at the end of the season but Smith refused to rule out the former Norwich man returning to the Banks's Stadium.

He said: "It's something we'll speak to him about afterwards. He must have something because I liked him and brought him here and hoped he would do well for us. He's still third top scorer here and Martin obviously sees something in him."

Jarvis added: "I'd been on the bench and starting now and again but I wasn't playing enough football so I saw it as a great opportunity.

"I started the season playing well but found myself on the bench and sometimes not even on the bench and for me to be playing regularly is important."