Lee Johnson has explained his signing of five loan players, the maximum allowed in a matchday squad.

New arrivals Dan Crowley from Arsenal, and Nick Townsend from Birmingham, have joined Manchester United duo Ben Pearson and Joe Rothwell as well as Conor Wilkinson from Bolton Wanderers.

Johnson said: "I think some people moan about loans but they've got to be careful because we want to make these guys permanent signings if possible.

"If they ever became available we'd be at the front of the queue, apart from with Dan Crowley who's pretty much seen as a future Arsenal player.

"We also need to think about next season when there are no emergency loans so you need links with big clubs who have got good players.  We are lucky that we have links with Man United because of our chairman Maurice Watkins. We are lucky that I played for Arsenal as a kid and still have links there. And we are well in with Man City as well. We just have to send Jose Mourinho (Chelsea manager) a Christmas present now.

"Ideally you would have 18 players who have come through the youth system but we have an expectation to compete at the top end of the table and I will look at anything that brings us the quality we need."

Goalkeeper Townsend has joined until November while the other four loans are until January.