Paul McCallum: West Ham striker joins Torquay United on loan

Torquay have signed striker Paul McCallum on a one-month loan deal from Premier League side West Ham.

The 20-year-old has previously spent time on loan at Aldershot and AFC Wimbledon.

"We hope he is the missing jigsaw piece," said Gulls manager Alan Knill.

"You don't have to be a football genius to know we're missing a little bit at the top end of the pitch and Paul is something different."

McCallum is expected to go straight into the Torquay squad for Tuesday's League Two clash with Burton Albion.

He scored four goals in nine games while on loan with Wimbledon, despite being sent off on his debut, and also hit the back of the net three times for Aldershot.

"We're very thankful to West Ham for letting him out," added Knill.

''He's been injured and now his fitness is good, but just needs games. He is a physical presence and an alternative option because you can't always pass it around people in the box.

''On Saturday against Mansfield, we put a lot of good balls into the box but it was quite difficult for our players to get on the end of it, so a bit more size always helps.''