ROVERS defender Scott Wharton has joined League Two side Cambridge United on loan until the end of the season. 

Wharton has played four times for Rovers this season, but not since the EFL Cup defeat to Leeds in September, and he has been allowed to move to Shaun Derry's side on a temporary deal for the remainder of the campaign. 

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‎Cambridge currently sit eighth in the League Two table, just one point outside the play-off spots following an eight game unbeaten run.

The Us host Mansfield tomorrow, with Wharton eligible to make his debut in the fixture at the Abbey Stadium, and he would be available for Cambridge should they reach the play-off at the end of the season.

Wharton was handed his Rovers senior debut in the 2-2 draw with Burton on August 20, and he followed that up with his first senior goal in a 4-3 win over Crewe in the EFL Cup.

The defender was also a late substitute in the win over Rotherham on September 17, and despite featuring in the EFL Cup defeat to Leeds, and all three of the club’s Checkatrade Trophy ties, he has struggled for game-time since.

Cambridge moved to bring in Wharton after losing Tom Dallison and Josh Coulson, with manager Derry delighted to land his man.

“First and foremost, we’re pleased to be able to bring another acquisition into the squad," he told the Cambridge news.

“We’ve been tracking him for a while, he’s a young left-footed centre-half from Blackburn Rovers who has played a number of senior games this season.

“He has been blooded into their first team, so it’s not so much of a gamble on a young one who’s not experienced first-team football.

“With the loss of Tom Dallison (following the end of his loan spell from Brighton) and Josh (Coulson) missing for the rest of the season, we knew that centre-half position was paramount in terms of bringing somebody in.

“We’re pleased that Scott has arrived and we’re hopeful he can come in and push the two who have got the shirts (Leon Legge and Mark Roberts) and try to get the shirt.

“That’s the challenge for all these players coming into the building.

“They’ve all got to grab hold of that shirt and keep it because it’s a tough shirt to grab hold of.”