HEREFORD United have signed Bristol City goalkeeper Chris Weale on loan following the injury to Matt Murray.

Weale joined the Edgar Street club along with Carlisle defender Joshua Gowling ahead of today's 5pm deadline for emergency loans.

The Ashton Gate keeper, on loan for a month but with an immediate recall, will provide competition for Craig Samson following the injury to Murray and Darren Randolph having returned to Charlton following his refusal to play.

Murray is expected to be out for the rest of the season after rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee during Hereford’s 3-0 defeat at MK Dons on Tuesday, just weeks into his comeback from 18 months on the sidelines with cruciate ligament damage to his left knee.

Weale, who played the first game of last season on loan at Hereford, signed for Bristol City in the summer of 2006 in a move which saw him reunited with manager Gary Johnson following their Yeovil Town days.

Former Bournemouth centre-half Gowling, on loan until January 3, will strengthen a Bulls defence that has been without Robbie Threfall (foot) and Sam Oji (knee) since September and was further depleted when Bruno N’Gotty suffered an Achilles injury.

Bulls first-team coach John Trewick said: “We feel they can add quality to the squad.”

Hereford are without a match this weekend but the pair will be available for the trip to Colchester next Saturday.