City have signed Stoke centre half Andrew Davies on a three-month emergency loan.

Providing the relevant paperwork is done in time, the 6ft 3in 26-year-old, capped once by England under-21s, is likely to go straight into the squad for tomorrow's home clash with AFC Wimbledon. Loan players must be registered at least three hours before kick-off.

It is a ninth loan spell for Davies, who has past Premier League and UEFA Cup experience with hometown club Middlesbrough.

Davies left Boro for Southampton, where he was named their player of the season, before joining Stoke for £1m in August 2008.

He has had limited opportunities with the Potters and has since spent spells with Preston, Sheffield United and Walsall as well as returning to the Riverside for the final three months of last season.

Davies started this campaign in the Championship with a month at Crystal Palace but made only one league appearance.