DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE S loan signing Doug Loft has set his sights on helping his new club in their promotion challenge this season, writes MIKE SIMMONDS. The 22-year-old midfielder moved to Victoria Road during transfer deadline day on Monday, signing a de

DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE'S loan signing Doug Loft has set his sights on helping his new club in their promotion challenge this season, writes MIKE SIMMONDS.

The 22-year-old midfielder moved to Victoria Road during transfer deadline day on Monday, signing a deal until the end of the season, and he now can't wait to get started.

"I got a call on deadline day from Micky Adams, saying there might be a chance to go out on loan, as he was signing a few players," said Loft, who joined Brighton from Hastings United in 2005.

"When I heard it was Dagenham, I was more than happy to go as they are a good club and I wanted to get some games for them.

"Although I live in Brighton now, my family are from the Beckenham area, so it is quite a local team for me.

"I looked at the league table and saw they were doing well, challenging for promotion, so I'm very happy to join and get started."

Even though Loft was not scheduled to meet up with his new team-mates until today (Thursday), he is already aware of the closely-knit squad Daggers possess.

"I didn't really know any of their players to be honest, but I heard from someone at Brighton, Jonny Dixon, that their team spirit is legendary," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to the club and meeting everyone now."

Since moving to the Withdean Stadium, Loft has endured a stop-start career with the Seagulls, making 46 appearances and scoring three goals.

Of those games played, only nine of them have been in the starting XI, although he did have one of his best performances when Brighton defeated billionaires Manchester City in the Carling Cup this season.

"It's been a frustrating season with Albion because I know that I'm playing well, but I've only started a few games," he said.

"The manager brought in a loan player and didn't really play him, but I was still only getting on a few times for 20 minutes here and there to try and change the game.

"It can be quite annoying, because it seemed the like older players would always get the chances, so I'm really looking forward to this opportunity to play some games."

Loft is expected to go straight into the squad for Saturday's match with Bury, and if things go well with the Daggers, then his deal might even be made into a permanent one in the close season.

"My contract is up in the summer and I'm not sure what is happening at the moment, so if everything goes well for Dagenham, then who knows," he said.

"It's up to the manager whether I start on Saturday, but I will be ready if that is the case.

"I like to attack and get forward. I try to nick a few goals too, so that is what I will be aiming to do."

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