QPR have signed highly-rated young defender Ronnie Edwards on loan from Southampton for the rest of the season.

Saints paid a reported £3m to Peterborough United for Edwards in the summer but he has only made two appearances so far for the Premier League club.

The 21-year-old’s debut came in a Carabao Cup victory at Cardiff in August and last month he made his first top-flight appearance off the bench in a 5-1 home defeat by Chelsea.

“You can obviously wait until deadline day but as soon as I heard of this, I thought why not get started straight away?” Edwards told the QPR website, external.

“I was used to playing regularly in the past and I have missed that. Hopefully I can get that here.

“I know about the division. It’s exciting, it is another challenge, and I am ready to get going.”

Edwards will provide additional cover for QPR boss Marti Cifuentes at centre-back with Steve Cook and Liam Morrison currently absent because of injuries.

“We are excited about his ball-playing qualities and overall defensive work,” said chief executive Christian Nourry.

“I want to thank Southampton for placing their trust in us at a time when there were a number of suitors for the player.”