Pars sign a Saint

Allan Johnston has made defender Brad McKay his first signing in the January transfer window.

The 22 year old joins Dunfermline from St Johnstone on loan until the end of the season.

McKay joined the Hearts Academy in July 2010 as a 17-year-old from Edinburgh City. During his first full season with the Jambos he was loaned out to junior side, Penicuik Athletic winning their Players Player of the Year award.

Dunfermline were the opponents when Brad made the Hearts bench for the first time in the match that Paul Gallacher was injured and ruled out for the rest of the season. Brad was loaned out to Stenhousemuir for the month of November the following year. There he made four first team appearances and gained valuable experience.

It was March 2013 when he made his first team debut for Hearts replacing Fraser Mullen in a 0-0 Edinburgh Derby. His first start for Hearts was against Ross County in April 2013. Captained Hearts in pre- season the next year and went on to make 40 appearances for the Tynecastle club, winning a Championship medal last season before leaving for St Johnstone.

Brad started in the Europa Cup match against Alashkert in Armenia but only made two further appearances, the last against Ross County on 11 August 2015.

McKay still remains in Saints manager Tommy Wright's plans but he feels that he needs to be playing matches. Brad played at right back in St Johnstone's Development League win over Dundee on Tuesday but was made available for loan if the right kind of club came in for him. Wright is quoted this week as saying:-

“He won’t just be going for the sake of it, we want the right team for him. He’s very much part of the squad here but he’s not been able to get into the team and we both feel he needs games.

“He came here from Hearts for that and he hasn’t played as much as he would’ve liked because of the way others are playing. He’s been working hard in training but needs to get playing again.

“Brad is still contracted to us for 18 months so he’s still very much our player and in our thoughts, but at this moment in time he needs football. If the right club comes in we’ll look at it, if not he’ll stay here and fight for a place.”

Comments from Brad and Manager to follow later tonight