St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas has signed two wingers on loan until the end of the season Derby County’s Lee Croft and Falkirk’s Jack Compton.
Lomas has previously worked with Croft (26) in England and has been impressed with what he’s seen of Compton (23) since he moved north.
”I’m delighted to have got both of them,” the Perth boss said. ”Myself and Tommy (Wright) have both spent time at Norwich, Tommy more than me. Crofty was there then, so we know all about him.
”He also came through the Manchester City youth system and I’ve spoken to people down there I know and I’ve heard good things. I think he’s at a good age, and will be keen to get games.
”Things have stagnated for young Jack at Falkirk for whatever reason but I know he did very well when he was on loan at Bradford.
”He likes to get at a full-back, which is what I like to see. Both of them will gives us more competition in the wide areas because they can play on both flanks.
”I’m a great believer that competition keeps players on their toes.”
Lomas added: ”We’ve been a bit exposed with Chris Millar out, because we don’t have another right-sider. And thankfully Liam Craig hasn’t got injured because he’s the only wide left player we’ve got.
”When we lost three games on the bounce we maybe suffered when we got a few injuries.”
The situation with both players will be reassessed at the end of the season, but Derby manager Nigel Clough would appear to be open to the deal becoming permanent.
Clough said: ”It is an opportunity for Lee to go and get some games with a view to doing something in the summer.”
Croft has not featured for Derby since the middle of October.
Meanwhile, Frazer Wright played the full 90 minutes of Saints’ closed-doors game against Rangers on Tuesday. Cillian Sheridan got 75 minutes and Sean Higgins also gained game time, as did trialist defender Jim Paterson.
Photo Mike Egerton/PA