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Forest Green Rovers have signed Bristol City striker Shawn McCoulsky on a permanent deal until the end of the 2021 season.

He spent last season on loan at Newport County, where he scored 11 goals in 35 appearances and had one of the best goals per minute ratio in the Football League, with a goal every 143 minutes.

McCoulsky, who we reported FGR's interest in earlier in the week, also scored a dramatic 88th-minute winner for the Exiles to knock Leeds out of the third round of the FA Cup.

The 21-year-old has been on loan at League One Southend United for the first half of the season, scoring four goals in 22 appearances, predominantly from the bench.

"Having played against Forest Green Rovers last year, their style of football stood out and it's a club moving in the right direction, a very ambitious club that are doing well in the league and I wanted to be a part of it," McCoulsky said.

"The two-and-a-half-year deal gives me that security and a chance to knuckle down.

"I would say my strengths are running in behind with pace, I am a fast player, and I love scoring goals and that is one of the main qualities I would like to bring here to get the club promoted."

FGR manager Mark Cooper said: "He is a player I have monitored for a couple of years having seen him play for Bath City and his pace excited me."

"He has scored goals wherever he has been and the more goals you have got in your team, the better.

"I am sure he will be a brilliant acquisition for us. It's probably not the big name everyone would crave but you're not guaranteed anything because of a name.

"We have a different way of recruiting and he is another young one that we think will add to what we have got."

McCoulsky made one substitute appearance for Bristol City, which came in the EFL Cup against Hull City in October 2016. He previously spent time on loan at Weston Super-Mare, Torquay United and Bath City, with 30 career goals to his name so far.

The signing is subject to FA and EFL approval.

Meanwhile, FGR announced this morning that Ben Morris and Theo Archibald have returned to their parent clubs following the end of their loan deals.

Both had signed season-long deals in the summer from Ipswich Town and Brentford respectively but, in the interest of them receiving more game time at such a pivotal time in their development, they have both seen their deals end.