Gateshead swoop to sign South Shields duo Blair Adams and Dillon Morse on loan

With the Mariners season currently on hold until the first week of March, the Heed moved for the defensive duo and they could make their debuts in Saturday’s National League North home game against Guiseley.

The move sees Morse return to the club where he spent his formative years in the game after appearing Gateshead’s academy during the 2014/15 season.

He went on to make 41 appearances for Blyth Spartans before becoming a mainstay of the South Shields defence as they progressed up the non-league pyramid over the last four years.

Former Sunderland academy graduate Adams has made 77 appearances over the last two seasons for the Mariners after spending time with Coventry City, Notts County, Brentford and Hartlepool United.

The Mariners confirmed that both players are still part of their long-term plans and “look forward to seeing them back in Shields colours at the earliest opportunity.”

Gateshead assistant manager Ian Watson believes that bringing in the duo on a temporary basis was “a no-brainer” and revealed that they have already settled into life at the International Stadium.

He said: “It’s a bit of no-brainer when you get the chance to bring two quality players into the club because we want to improve the standards all the time, and they’re certainly going to do that.

“We’re really pleased to get them in, they’ve settled in well in training today and we think it’s going to kick both them and ourselves on.”