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Burton Albion have signed goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson on a four-month deal.

Tomlinson, who had a trial at Preston North End, has been a free agent since the end of last season after turning down a new offer at Port Vale.

The 27-year-old said: "Leaving Port Vale was a decision I made mainly to do with them being in administration.

"If I can impress the manager maybe we can work something out [long term] but it's a long time until Christmas so I won't count my chickens."

Tomlinson made 81 appearances for Vale after and was expected to be the club's first choice keeper this season.

He is Burton's third first-team keeper following the summer signings of Ross Atkins and Dean Lyness and Brewers manager Gary Rowett says Tomlinson will come straight into the first-team reckoning.

"There's a strong chance he will be involved pretty soon," Rowett said. "He will come in and add some real competition there.

"Dean's one we have earmarked for the future and I just feel perhaps this will give us the opportunity to get him out (on loan) and get him some regular games."