Mark Ellis has become Forest Green Rovers third January arrival with the central defender arriving on a loan deal until the end of the season from League Two Carlisle United.

Ellis,28, will replace defender Charlie Clough, who joined Barnet on Monday - and the SNJ understands another player could be through the door before Saturday's trip to Barrow.

Ellis trained with his new team-mates this morning and is expected to go straight into the heart of the defence against Barrow.

He said: "I'm not far off 350 games so I've got that experience. I had a chat to Mark and spoke to the manager and coaches at Carlisle and they had good words to say. I'm an aggressive defender. I'm looking forward to getting some game time."

In August 2009, while under the caretaker management of David Brown, the Bolton Wanderers product spent a month-long loan spell at FGR.

He made six appearances in that loan stint and has gone onto enjoy a fruitful career in the Football League representing Torquay United, Crewe Alexandra and Shrewsbury Town in League One and League Two.

Having started his career at Bolton, Ellis transferred to Torquay initially on loan, before a permanent move without having made a senior appearance with the Trotters.

He blossomed at Plainmoor and earned a move to Crewe Alexandra, where he helped the Railwaymen win the Football League Trophy at Wembley.

A two-year spell at Shrewsbury followed, before he joined Carlisle on loan ahead of a permanent move to Brunton Park, where he’s contracted till the summer of 2018.