OLIVER BYRNE insists the "professionalism and hunger" of Connah's Quay Nomads persuaded him to put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the Cymru Premier season.

The 22-year-old has been training with Nomads since November after his release from Stevenage, the Flintshire outfit fighting off competition from elsewhere to tie him down to a deal.

"I'm delighted to have signed for The Nomads," said Byrne, part of a Manchester United Under-18s team that included Marcus Rashford, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Axel Tuanzebe.

"I've been training with the club since November and have enjoyed every session.

"I am looking forward to being involved in matchdays and working under Andy and his staff.

"I had other offers on the table, but the professionalism and hunger of the club is what swung my decision. I'm really looking forward to the second half of the season and helping Nomads to more silverware."

Nomads boss Andy Morrison was delighted to sign Byrne, who will compete with Eric Merner for a starting role while number one Lewis Brass is sidelined with a broken toe.

"Ollie's come in, trained and done really well," said Morrison, who was quick to sign Byrne as cover with Airbus and Carmarthen having to play outfield players in goal this season.

"I think it showed when Lewis broke his toe how quickly things can change and we've actually seen this season that Cymru Premier teams have had to play players in goal, which doesn't reflect well on the team or the league.

"It gives the three goalkeepers an opportunity to fight for the shirt and it means that we are covered if circumstances go against us.

"If anything had happened to young Eric then we'd have been putting an outfield player in goal, which is not good for us or the league."