Yeovil Town boss Gary Johnson yesterday landed Reading midfielder Lawson D’Ath on loan after a scouting mission that began four years ago.

The versatile Oxford-born teenager completed a month’s loan switch yesterday and could make his debut for the Glovers against Scunthorpe United tomorrow as the Huish Park outfit await news of the fitness of Joe Edwards.

D’Ath has made just one appearance for his parent club, coming off of the substitutes’ bench during an FA Cup defeat to Yeovil’s npower League One rivals Stevenage last month.

It was the youngster’s performances for Reading’s youth team that first caught the eye of Johnson, who admitted he genuinely excited to complete the temporary deal. The Glovers’ boss said: “That is brightening me up because he’s a very good player. He’s only 19, but I’ve been looking at him for a few years because when he was 15 he was a very good player as well.

“It was just picking the right time when he could make a difference in the league and we were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

“We spoke to his agent, the boy was happy, he came down straight away, and he gives us a very good footballer who can play anywhere across the middle of the park.

“He can play up front or just behind the front one, if you want him to.

“There is every chance he will take his place on Saturday. Joe took quite a hefty knock last Saturday and played through it, but we’re waiting to see what the scan says when it comes back. We hope he’s fit but unfortunately, from what we hear, he may not be.”

D’Ath said the move came quickly but added he had no hesitations in embarking on his first loan.

Asked about Johnson’s tracking of his career, he said: “I did not know that and that is quite surprising, but it is good because he knows what sort of player I am and he has watched me for a long stretch of time over a good few years.

“It was just last night and has come just like that. It is good news and I am looking forward to it. I have not got time to think about too much ahead of Saturday’s game, I am just straight into it and we will see what happens.

“To move to npower League One at my age is a great move. This is a good club as well, they pass the ball well and it will be good for me to get some games here.

“I knew where Yeovil were in the table and I had seen the result against Sheffield Wednesday, and I thought that was unlucky having gone 1-0 up. I do not know too much but I am sure I will get to know more about them and what a great club it is.”

On which role he favours, D’Ath said: “I am a central midfielder and a box-to-box player by trade but I can be clever as well. I have played in the whole a lot for Reading reserves and this season I have played on the wing, it is all good.”

Southampton left-back Ryan Dickson, whose loan transfer to Yeovil came to an end on Wednesday, yesterday joined Leyton Orient on loan until the end of the season.