DUNFERMLINE Athletic manager Jim McIntyre has signed St Johnstone defender Kevin Rutkiewicz on loan until the end of the season.

The centre half has been six-and-a-half years with the Perth club but injury has reduced his first team appearances this season.

The 30 year-old skippered Saints in their First Division title-winning 2008-2009 campaign and has been a regular at McDiarmid Park under manager Derek McInnes but with a number of central defenders being signed by Saints in recent months he has not been able to break back into the side.

McIntyre is delighted to have got the 6' 1" defender on board and commented, "Kevin is a real leader and will be an important player for us in a key period of the season."