Torquay sign Walsall striker Ryan Jarvis on loan

Torquay United have signed Walsall striker Ryan Jarvis on loan.

The 25-year-old has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the first team at the Bescot Stadium and will stay at Plainmoor until May 31.

"He's played not as regularly as he wanted to at Walsall," Gulls boss Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon.

"I know him from my days at Leyton Orient, he came when we were in League One struggling at the bottom of the league and had a great impact on us.

Ling continued: "He scored loads of goals very, very quickly and got us out of a hole that we were in and it set us up for the rest of the season."

Jarvis said starting games "now and again" at Walsall was not enough at this stage of his career.

"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," he added.

A former England youth international while coming through the youth ranks at Norwich City, Jarvis' career has never lived up to the early promise he showed.

He had free transfer in June 2008.

He moved to Walsall last summer and scored three goals from 11 starts and 14 substitute appearances.

"His career's meandered a little bit. Everyone thought he was going to be a real good product, he's got England credentials, and it hasn't materialised as he would have hoped.

"He's not really found himself a home yet and that's what I intend to do here," Ling explained.

Torquay have been looking for another attacking option since Billy Bodin went back to Swindon Town after his loan spell in January.

"The team has managed to make up for Billy not being there but I think the last couple of games when I've looked behind I've felt we've needed another attacking option and Ryan will be that attacking option," Ling added.

And Jarvis is hoping he can help Torquay recapture their recent form.

The Gulls have lost their last two matches and go to promotion rivals Crawley on Saturday after previously losing just once in 16 games.

"Hopefully I can add a little bit to keep trying to push the team up the table," Jarvis said.

"It's exciting times ahead because we're playing for a play-off place or automatic promotion."