SAINTS U23 defender Tom O’Connor has been loaned to League One Gillingham until January.

The 19-year-old Republic of Ireland youth international will be playing alongside his former U23s teammate Alfie Jones, who has played all five of Gillingham's matches since being loaned to the Kent outfit last month.

O'Connor signed a two-year contract extension in January and captained the Under-23s to promotion to Premier League 2 Division One last season.

He scored  in the U23s' stunning 4-3 win away to Manchester City earlier this month (Saints trailed 3-0 at half-time before O'Connor made it 3-2 with an 86th-minute header).

O'Connor and Jones will be aiming to help Gillingham get their first win of the season tomorrow, when Bolton Wanderers visit the Priestfield Stadium in what will be the visitors' first game since their survival was secured.