Billy Sharp has rejoined former club Doncaster on loan until the end of the season.

Sharp signed for Saints from Doncaster for £1.8m two years ago.

He went on to score nine goals in 15 games to help secure Saints promotion to the Premier League but has been all but frozen out ever since.

Sharp spent the first half of this season on loan at Reading under Nigel Adkins, the man who brought him to St Mary's.

The Royals were keen to extend that deal but were unable to finance it given uncertainty over the future ownership of the club.

Sharp has now moved back to Doncaster who are third from bottom of the Championship under Paul Dickov and battling to stave off relegation.

Dickov said: "I'm delighted to bring back Billy to the Doncaster Rovers.  I've been looking to bring in an experienced Championship striker who is capable of winning matches for the club and Billly is that type of player.

"The fact that Billy knows the club so well and has such a fantastic relationship with the fans will hopefully mean he can hit the ground running straight away.

"At this point I have to go on record and thank Gavin and the owners, for their continued support in this transfer window.  They confirmed they were willing to support me in the window and have certainly done that through securing Richie Wellens, Gabriel Tamas, Abdoulaye Meite and Billy Sharp already this month.  I also want to thank those at Southampton for helping to complete the deal."