Goalkeeper Jon McCracken makes loan return to Dundee

Dundee completed the cinch Premiership’s first signing of transfer deadline day by taking Norwich goalkeeper Jon McCracken back to Dens Park on loan.

McCracken made four appearances for Dundee at the start of the season but lost his place when Trevor Carson joined from St Mirren and both parties agreed to terminate the loan deal in August.

The 23-year-old went on to join Accrington on an emergency loan and played 13 times and now cannot play for anyone else this season other than Dundee.

With Carson missing some recent games through injury, manager Tony Docherty told his club’s website: “It is important for me to have strong competition in every position for the last part of the season and I want that with our goalkeepers and bringing Jon in gives us a real level of competition.”

The Republic of Ireland international has scored 17 goals since graduating from the Canaries academy, with seven of them coming this season.

Several players could be on their way out of Celtic Park with David Turnbull and Mikey Johnston expected to join Cardiff and West Brom respectively, and James Forrest linked with an exit.

Gustaf Lagerbielke’s proposed loan move to Italian side Lecce could be scuppered amid reports of further injury concerns over his fellow centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Rangers are expected to complete the signing of 20-year-old Colombian winger Oscar Cortes on loan from Lens with an option to buy after he arrived in Glasgow.

However, the Light Blues look to have been thwarted in their bid to land Brazilian left-back Jefte from Fluminense. They hoped to recruit the 20-year-old immediately, but he is currently on loan with APOEL Nicosia and the Cypriot club are reportedly intent on keeping him until the end of the campaign.

Livingston have signed midfielder David Carson from Inverness on an 18-month deal.

The 28-year-old made more than 160 appearances for Caley Thistle after joining from Morpeth Town in 2019.

Livi manager David Martindale, who is also hoping to sign a centre-back, said: “He can play in a number positions but, for me, is best in a defensive midfield role. He has bags of endeavour and desire to work hard for the team and I’m sure this will see him quickly become a fans favourite.”

Motherwell are still looking for at least one further addition after signing 22-year-old Welsh forward Jack Vale on loan from Blackburn on Wednesday, and assistant manager Stephen Frail gave fans fresh hope there might be a loan return for Groningen striker Kevin van Veen.

“I’m not sure anything’s out the water,” Frail said on Thursday morning.

“That could be one of those last-minute things. There will be one or two people that the manager and recruitment team are looking to bring in.”

Aberdeen are said to have had a bid rejected in an effort to re-sign Mattie Pollock on loan from Watford, a day after Barry Robson was sacked as manager.

The Edinburgh club signed Scott Fraser on Wednesday, but it looks unlikely that they will secure Yan Dhanda before the deadline after the Ross County playmaker agreed a pre-contract to move to Tynecastle in the summer.

Staggies boss Derek Adams said on Tuesday he expects the 25-year-old to remain in Dingwall for the rest of the season, while he hopes to add at least one or possibly two new players.

St Johnstone are reportedly hoping to land 25-year-old striker Adama Sidibeh from English non-league side Warrington Rylands.

Hibernian are another club in the market for a central defender while Kilmarnock and St Mirren have also been linked with loan moves for Van Veen.

Killie manager Derek McInnes said on Wednesday “we may still look to add one if we can”.

Outside of the top flight, Lowland League side Albion Rovers have sold striker Joe Bevan to Premier League Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old scored 15 goals for Rovers, including nine in League Two, after joining from Camelon 12 months ago.