Shane Lowry challenges for the ball during a pre-season game against Juventus

Plymouth Argyle have brought in defender Shane Lowry on a three-month loan from Aston Villa.

Lowry, 20, will provide defensive cover for the Pilgrims, who are currently without injured Reda Johnson and transfer-listed Marcel Seip.

Australia-born Lowry, who represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level, recently decided to play international football down under.

But he now joins up with some of his old Irish team-mates at Home Park.

"He has played with Alan Judge and Cillian Sheridan in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side," said Argyle boss Paul Sturrock. "And they have waxed lyrical about him.

"Our scouts have also given us very good reports, so he is a welcome addition.

"Defensively, we are very short and need players coming in.

"He has got great potential and wants to do well," Sturrock told the Argyle website.

Lowry, who is 6ft 1in, whose parents hails from Ireland, arrived at Villa as a 15-year-old in David O'Leary's time in charge.

He has made just two brief first-team appearances for Villa in last month's two-legged Europa League clash with Rapid Vienna, each time coming on as a late substitute for Curtis Davies.

Argyle urgently need an upturn in form after failing to win any of their first seven Championship games, shipping 14 goals in the process, to slump to the foot of the table.

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