CHERRIES have completed the signing of goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, on loan from Newcastle United.

The 24-year-old arrives to provide competition to Mark Travers.

Cherries were forced into a late move to sign a goalkeeper, following a calf injury suffered by backup Orjan Nyland last week, which could rule him out for up to eight weeks.

That left only inexperienced pair Will Dennis and Cameron Plain as challengers to Travers.

But Woodman has now joined up on a deal until the end of the season.

The Newcastle United stopper was on the brink of completing a move to the south coast over the summer.

The Daily Echo understands Woodman had agreed a season-long loan switch to Cherries, only for an injury to Magpies' first-choice stopper Martin Dubravka to scupper the deal.

Dubravka's injury, coupled with Karl Darlow testing positive for coronavirus, suddenly propelled Woodman to first choice at Newcastle. He made five appearances for the first team this season, but the last of those came back in September.

And with Newcastle's goalkeeper department now back up to full fitness, including Mark Gillespie, the Magpies are well stocked.

Woodman spent the past two campaigns on loan in the Championship with Swansea City, establishing himself as their first choice.

The former England under-21 international has also had loan experience at Hartlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.

Woodman was this week away with Newcastle on their mid-season break in Saudi Arabia. He was an unused substitute as Howe's men beat Al-Ittihad 2-1 with Darlow and Gillespie instead getting match minutes.