Millwall striker John Marquis has joined League Two leaders Northampton Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old, who previously had a loan spell at Sixfields in 2014, comes in as cover for captain Marc Richards after he was ruled out for at least a month with an Achilles injury.

"Of course losing Marc is a blow, but we are delighted to have re-signed John to add to our squad. When I spoke with the chairman in January we agreed to keep some money available so that we could cover injuries and this is a perfect example of this," said Town manager Chris Wilder.

"This is a big 15 games for the club and we need to be at our strongest as a squad and if Marc had been out for only a couple of games I am not sure we would have acted, but with him probably missing more than that we felt it was the right decision to strengthen.

"John is a player the supporters know well and he was very popular here in his first spell. He is a fighter, a striker who has a physical presence and can finish. He will be able to hit the ground running, he knows the club, he knows what we are all about and he has been in and around the Millwall squad so he is fit and ready. He is also out of contract at Millwall in the summer, so this gives both parties the chance to have another look at each other over the remainder of the season."

Northampton currently lead the way by ten points in the fourth tier and are 18 points clear of fourth place.