Motherwell add Louis Laing loan after Anthony Straker signs

Nottingham Forest want Louis Laing to return after his loan period at Motherwell

Motherwell have completed the loan signing of Nottingham Forest defender Louis Laing.

The 21-year-old centre-half has recently been on loan at Notts County and will stay at Fir Park until the end of the season.

He goes straight into the squad for Saturday's game with St Johnstone.

As does Anthony Straker, the 26-year-old Grenada international arriving on loan from York City on Thursday.

Laing began his career at Sunderland and spent the second half of season 2011-12 on loan at Wycombe.

He moved to Forest last summer and played 12 games for Notts County on loan until the end of December.

Forest manager Stuart Pearce told BBC Sport: "The opportunity to get him some more first-team football will be of great benefit to us and him."

"County wanted to take him possibly on a permanent rather than a loan but that's not the future we have for Louis.

"We think he's going to benefit by playing more first-team football, to come back to us in the summer and let us evaluate him from there.

"We didn't want to lose him. We still have another option next year on a contract with him. We'd rather keep him as a Forest player."

Motherwell loan signing Anthony Straker has played more than 300 games in his senior career

Asked if he viewed Laing as a future first-team player at the City Ground, Pearce said: "I don't see any reason to doubt that.

"He joined us in the summer and found it difficult to break into the first team, but this loan period at Notts County benefited him greatly.

"We think he's a developing player. At this stage in his career we are not prepared to put a line through him and we're prepared to give him every opportunity."

Straker, who has eight caps for Grenada, can play either at left back or the left hand side of midfield.

He came through the youth ranks at Crystal Palace before playing more than 200 games for Aldershot Town. He spent two years at Southend United before moving to York last summer.

Speaking to the Motherwell website, Straker said: "I can't wait to get involved and hopefully being part of a team week in and week out.

"I'll come in and give my all. I want to show the supporters what I can do and come off the pitch knowing I've given everything for the team."

Manager Baraclough is delighted to have "versatile" Straker at Fir Park.

"Anthony is someone who I have known for some time now and I am delighted to get him on board," he said.

"He is full of energy, has got pace and a lot of experience being involved in promotion winning teams down south as well as playing international football.

"Most importantly, though, he is hungry to play and show what he can do. He's the type of character we need at the moment."