Swansea City manager Brian Flynn has signed Manchester United's Alan Tate and Marc Richards of Blackburn Rovers on loan in a bid to help his side's fight against the drop.

The pair have moved to the Vetch Field for an initial month's stay, with the option of extended loan deals.

Tate, a 20-year-old defender, is set to get his first taste of League football during his spell with the Third Division's bottom club.

And Richards will be looking for his first League goal, having previously had loan spells with Oldham, Crewe and Halifax.

The 20-year-old striker has made two appearances for Blackburn in the Worthington Cup and scored Rovers' winning penalty in their shoot-out against Walsall earlier this month.

"Having the two of them at the club increases our options and adds to the quality of the squad," said Flynn.

"Alan is very much a footballing centre-half. He's also a big lad, so he's more than capable of coping with the physical side of the game.

"Marc is strong and quick and he's got a good goal-scoring record at Academy and now at reserve level," Flynn told the club's website.