Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has joined Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season.

The 23-year-old has had previous spells with Scunthorpe United, Walsall, Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers and Preston North End and will relish the prospect of more first-team football.

Villa boss Steve Bruce, the ex-United skipper, has revived the Midlanders' fortunes with the club now in mid-table after a disappointing start to life in the Championship. Bruce has raided Old Trafford to bring in Johnstone with another former United Academy keeper, Pierluigi Gollini, also currently on the club's books. Mark Bunn kept goal in Monday's 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City.

Johnstone signed a new contract with the Reds in October and has been on the bench twice for the first team this term. United manager Jose Mourinho confirmed recently the England Under-21 international would be the only senior member of the squad to leave on loan this month.