Teenage striker Louis Almond has joined Cheltenham Town on loan from Blackpool until the end of the season and starts this afternoon's match against Port Vale.
Louis, who signed his first professional contract with Blackpool yesterday, joins his Tangerines team mate Ashley Eastham at the Abbey Business Stadium.
Louis started out with the Academy at Blackburn Rovers before joining Blackpool. He progressed from the youth team to become a regular selection for the reserves during 2008-09 and last summer he was included in the first team squad for the pre-season South West Challenge Cup in Devon. Louis has featured on the substitutes' bench for the first team on a handful of occasions and made his first team debut as a substitute in a Carling Cup win at Crewe Alexandra back in August.
Commenting on Louis signing his contract Blackpool manager Ian Holloway told the club's official website: "Louis has done exceptionally well this season and we are delighted to be able to reward him with a professional contract. He is a big strong boy who knows where the goal is and with Ashley Eastham, Mark Halstead and Stephen Husband we have some real quality coming through and I'm really looking forward to helping their development."
Louis has been registered in time to link up with the squad for today's match against Port Vale and will remain with Cheltenham until the end of the season, although he can be recalled by Blackpool after the initial 28 days of the loan.
The starting line-up for today's game demonstrates four changes from the side that took on Burton Albion last week. Almond, fit-again David Bird, Danny Andrew and Shane Duff (who makes his first start after a long injury layoff) will all start in place of David Hutton, Ashley Eastham, Andy Gallinagh and the injured Josh Low.
TODAY'S LINE-UP IS:
1 Scott BROWN
2 David BIRD
4 Shane DUFF
5 Michael TOWNSEND
7 Michael POOK
9 Justin RICHARDS
11 Louis ALMOND
19 Medy ELITO
27 Danny ANDREW
28 Matt THORNHILL
36 Aaron LESCOTT
Substitutes
3 Lee RIDLEY
8 Andy GALLINAGH
10 David HUTTON
14 Marley WATKINS
21 Will PUDDY
38 Barry HAYLES
39 Julian ALSOP
