Southend United sign Crystal Palace's Lee Hills on loan

Hills has played for England at under-18 and under-19 level

Southend United have signed Crystal Palace defender Lee Hills on-loan for the rest of the season.

Hills, 21, played for the Blues in a friendly against Braintree on Tuesday.

The full-back, who had loan spells with Colchester and Oldham in the past, is now fit again after a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.

He has not played in a competitive game for almost two years, but is expected to go straight into the squad for Saturday's match at Burton Albion.

Southend's promotion challenge has stuttered of late, and they have taken just seven points from the last eight games.