Mikael Mandron: Shrewsbury sign Sunderland striker on loan

Mikael Mandron's only first-team appearance for Sunderland this season was as a late sub in January's 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool

Shrewsbury Town have signed French youngster Mikael Mandron from Premier League side Sunderland on a youth loan.

The promotion-chasing League Two club have brought in the striker until the end of the season as cover for Andy Mangan, who has a knee injury.

Mandron, 20, played twice in the Premier League as a substitute in 2012-13, when he also netted 12 goals in 13 games for Sunderland's Under-18 team.

After stepping up to the Under-21s, he joined Fleetwood on loan a year ago.

He proved part of Fleetwood's promotion-winning team, scoring once in 13 appearances for the Cod Army, nine of them as substitute.

Since then, his only first-team appearance was for Sunderland against Liverpool earlier this month.

Shrewsbury sit second in League Two and a point behind leaders Wycombe Wanderers following Saturday's 3-2 win at home to Stevenage, when 14-goal top scorer James Collins hit a late winner.

Town boss Micky Mellon has concerns over the fitness of 10-goal Mangan, who came off early in that game with a recurrence of an existing injury.

"Andy has seen the specialist and we are awaiting on the results of that," said Mellon. "It looks like the knee problem we were nursing him through may keep him out for longer than we would like, so we need to strengthen in that area.

"Mikael is a lad that I know very well and one that I have seen play a lot. He is very quick. We're really pleased that Sunderland have trusted us with a player they have very high hopes for."