St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has welcomed the signing of Jaden Brown, saying his arrival covers a key position and gives him a more balanced squad.
Brown has made the move from Lincoln City on loan until the end of the season and the left-sided player will now help the Paisley side as they look to match or better last season’s sixth-place finish in the Premiership.
Thierry Small’s return to parent club Southampton this month had left Scott Tanser as the only senior left-back at the club and Robinson said it has been important not only to bring in cover for the position but to get the right player.
“Jaden’s a boy that I’ve watched before and had my eyes on,” Robinson said. “He was at Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield and played Championship football. He’s got a really good pedigree.
“We don’t have another player in the building if Scott Tanser got injured.
“And it’s important to have competition. He’s not here to make the numbers up, he’s here to compete and push Scott on, who has arguably been my player of the season so far.
“It would be a crisis if we got an injury, with Thierry Small being called back (by Southampton). It was really, really important that we had another option in that position.
“Also, Jaden can play higher up the pitch if need be so it’s a more balanced squad than it was previously.”
Brown told the club website: “I’m buzzing.
“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the team, the manager and the town in general so I’m happy to be here.
“I spoke to Ethan [Erhahon] and spoke to some other players as well. Ethan told me a lot about the players and the town so I felt really comfortable being here.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a league I haven’t played in before and every game will be a different experience.”
Brown is St Mirren’s second signing of the week, following the arrival of forward James Scott.
Scott spoke to the media on Friday and said that it was an easy decision to be reunited with Robinson after working under him at Motherwell prior to a £1.5m move to Hull City.
“Obviously I’ve had a little spell in England and it didn’t go too well but I spoke to the gaffer here and he wanted me so I thought I would come up and give it a bash,” Scott said.
“He got the best football out of me. Obviously I had my best season under the gaffer and I thought it was a no-brainer.
“I haven’t been playing my best football over the last year or two so I thought it was a little wake-up call and I’ll try and get back playing.”
Scott isn’t yet at full fitness but hopes to be involved against Rangers on Saturday and then go on to reach his best form. Reflecting on a difficult time at previous club Exeter, he said that injuries had hampered his progress in England but he feels he has a lot to offer St Mirren and is aiming to deliver assists and goals to help them qualify for Europe.
“I was injured when I signed for Exeter and wasn’t supposed to play but there was a little incident with one of the boys and they had to play me, so I wasn’t in condition,” he explained.
“I got thrown in at the deep end and I had the summer off and came back in good condition. I started the season well and then got a little injury in my knee and it started to die off a little.
“It’s a learning experience and that’s what you need. People forget I’m only 23 still, and I feel like I’ve been playing for ten years.
“I would never change it. That’s life and I’m happy that I did it.”
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