Lee Barnard has spent time at five different clubs on loan

Southend have brought in young Tottenham Hotspur reserve striker Lee Barnard, 23, for an undisclosed fee.

Barnard, who signed for Spurs as a trainee in August 2002, has had six spells out on loan in his five and a half years at White Hart Lane.

But he has now signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Shrimpers which will tie him to Roots Hall until 2010.

Barnard comes at a time when Southend's promotion hopers have been hit by a run of just one win in eight league games.

He is Tilson's third signing of the January window following the arrival of Damian Scannell from non-League Eastleigh and Brentford goalkeeper Clark Masters, who was immediately let out on loan to Blue Square Premier Stevenage.

Barnard, a target for Mark McGhee's Motherwell back in August, was a prolific scorer in first team football for Spurs - but made just three first team appearances.

He made his Football League debut during his first loan spell at Exeter City in 2002. And he has since also been loaned out to Stevenage, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town and twice this season to Crewe Alexandra, where his most recent stay ended just three weeks ago.