Derby County midfielder George Thorne looks set to join League One side Luton Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old - he turns 26 on Friday - has not featured for the Rams this season.

He has been playing for the under-23s but his last appearance for the first team was in the 4-1 home defeat by Sunderland in March when Gary Rowett was manager.

Thorne, who has 18 months to run on his contract, joined Derby on loan from West Bromwich Albion in January 2014 and played a key part in the Rams reaching the Championship play-off final that season where they lost to Queens Park Rangers.

His move became permanent in the summer of 2014 but his time at the club has been blighted by injuries including cruciate ligament damage to his knee and a broken leg.

He has had six different managers at Derby but has yet to play under current boss, Frank Lampard.

Thorne's Derby career record in total is 73 appearances (59 starts) and five goals.

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Luton sit second in League One, five points behind leaders Portsmouth and two ahead of Sunderland, who are third.

The Hatters are 13 games unbeaten in the League under Nathan Jones and their next game is an FA Cup third-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Saturday.

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Luton have turned to Thorne following the news that midfielder Glen Rea is likely to miss the rest of the season after suffering a partial tear of his cruciate ligament.

The 24-year-old went off during the 2-0 victory over Burton before Christmas.