Ireland striker Scott Hogan joins Birmingham City on loan from crosstown rivals Aston Villa

Birmingham City have announced the signing of Republic of Ireland international Scott Hogan from Aston Villa until the end of the season.

The Salford-born forward is on his third loan spell in a row having played for Sheffield United and Stoke City in recent times.

Hogan helped the Blades to promotion to the Premier League as runners-up in 2018/19 but has found gametime harder to come by since joining the Potters ahead of the current season.

The 27-year-old made his international bow in 2018 friendly defeat to Turkey and has since amassed eight caps, mostly as a substitute, without finding the net.

"He is a someone who plays very well off the shoulder. I think he will do very well with the strikers we have here and the players we have wide too,” said Birmingham manager Pet Clotet.

"Scott will give us more threat and he is a goalscorer, he has proven that. He looked very sharp in training and he showed us that he can finish chances very well. I am sure he will have a very positive impact on us.

"End of the day that's what you want from your strikers: that they can be a threat for defenders and they give defenders the feeling that they can never be comfortable."

Hogan has made his way around the leagues in England but he signed for Aston Villa in January 2017 from Brentford on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

He made 37 league appearances for the Villains in the 2017/2018 season but has found first team opportunities limited at the club since Steve Bruce was replaced by Dean Smith in October 2018.

Hogan is not the only Ireland striker to make a loan move to the Championship as the window draws to a close after Callum Robinson joined West Bromwich Albion on loan from Sheffield United.