Brentford U21 goalkeeper Mark Smith has been drafted in at the 11th hour to save Hitchin Town.
The move comes after The Canaries made an SOS call to the Bees on Thursday for urgent goalkeeping assistance.
Smith, 18, who joined Brentford at the end of last season from west London neighbours QPR, has agreed a short-term loan deal with the Southern Premier Division and will now hold the fort for Bermudian goalkeeper Tarj Bell, who is reportedly still on vacation.
The Bees’ keeper travelled to meet his new Hertfordshire teammates for the first time on Thursday evening and is expected to go straight into the side that travels to Corby Town tomorrow.
Smith would be eligible to play in The Canaries’ four opening fixtures - Corby, Banbury United, Bideford and Paulton Rovers - before returning to Brentford for the start of the Professional Development Squad’s against Crewe Alexandra on August 20.
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