Young winger McAllister home on loan

St Mirren have brought Kyle McAllister back to the club on loan from Derby until the end of the season.

The winger made 17 appearances for Saints before being sold to Derby aged 17 two years ago but has yet to make his first-team breakthrough.

In a busy day for the club, defender Anton Ferdinand signed a contract extension until the end of the season while 21-year-old Bournemouth goalkeeper Jordan Holmes joined on loan after Danny Rogers suffered a knee injury.

Manager Oran Kearney told the club's website: “I'm very pleased to have Kyle in. Number one you want to get good players in, but I also think it's very important to have people who have come through the club and know what it is about.

“Kyle had a great start to his career here and got his move to Derby. He's someone I've been aware of since I joined the club with people talking about him. He's fully fit at this point in time and we can't wait to get him in and get him started.''

McAllister could return to action when the Buddies host former skipper Jim Goodwin's Alloa side on Saturday, while Greg Tansey is also looking to make his comeback after a hugely frustrating 18 months.

Tansey moved from Aberdeen this month after failing to make an appearance this season after recovering from his latest operation to solve a hernia problem that first emerged weeks after he joined the Dons in the summer of 2017.

The former Inverness midfielder said: “I'm buzzing I'm back for a fresh start. It was unfortunate that I picked up a niggle and - with some complications from surgery - I found myself out for 15 months.

“I had never been injured before so I found it hard to take but it gave me that perspective to really make the most of being fit. I just can't wait to get out there now.

“It's given me a lot of hunger to get back to where I was and where I think I should be, and I believe this is the perfect club to showcase what I'm about and show people I am back fit and back to where I was.

“You go through a stage, any player who has been out for that long and you are still getting pain, you wonder if this could be the end. That was a realistic possibility, that's what I was thinking.

“Now I feel strong again it has given me a new perspective on being grateful to be fit. Before the 15 months out, I had never even had a niggle.

“In a weird way it has probably done me the world of good to not take my fitness for granted and just enjoy every minute, and that's what I'm here to do.'

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