Sears signs for Coventry

Freddie Sears has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Coventry City on a three-month loan.

Sears linked up with Chris Coleman's squad on Thursday, and will hope to be involved in Coventry's home fixture with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

The 20-year-old spent the opening half of the season with the Sky Blues' Championship rivals Crystal Palace, making 18 appearances before returning to Chadwell Heath in January.

The Hornchurch-based player is the second Academy graduate to join Coventry on loan in recent seasons, following Zavon Hines. Sears' fellow England Under-21 striker made seven substitute appearances at the end of the 2007/08 season, scoring once.

Sears will join two former West Ham trainees at the Ricoh Arena in the shape of centre-back Elliott Ward and forward Freddy Eastwood.

The promising youngster has made two first-team appearances for the Hammers this term - in the goalless Barclays Premier League draw with Blackburn Rovers and in the 2-1 FA Cup third-round defeat by Arsenal - but has been pushed down the pecking order by the arrivals of Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilan earlier this month.