THE Pars have moved quickly to replace loan star Greg Kiltie by snapping up Kiltie's Killie team-mate Don Thomas.

The pacy 23-year-old former Motherwell midfielder arrives on loan from Kilmarnock and Press Sport understands more signings could be on their way through the East End entrance door today (Friday).

Fans' favourite Kiltie was recalled by parent club Kilmarnock yesterday (Thrusday) but Athletic boss Stevie Crawford has moved quickly to plug the gap and Thomas will go straight into the Pars squad for theirt match at Mortom tomorrow (Saturday).

Thomas, who has been capped six times by Scotland at under-21s, arrives on loan until the end of the season and Crawford said: “What is good for us is at 23 years of age, Dom has experience of Championship football. I know he was in League One while at Dumbarton last season but he has also played some football in the top league as well.

“His best years are ahead of him. He comes here hungry like Greg was in terms of wanting to do well. If he does well for us there is the possibility of him going back to force his way into Kilmarnock’s plans in the summer.”

Thomas was in the Celtic youth system prior to joining Motherwell as a 14-year-old. He made his debut in December 2014 and went on to make a total of 15 appearances in the Premier League that season as well as helping their Development team to lift the Scottish Youth Cup. 

Loaned out to Queen of the South in January 2017, he made 18 appearances for the Dumfries club before joining Kilmarnock on a three-year deal in July 2017. After 13 appearances for Killie, further loan deals saw him return to QOS for another 14 games and then last season to Dumbarton where he made 26 appearances, scored 14 goals and earned himself selection for the Dumbarton's Team of the Decade. This season, Thomas has made 25 appearances for Kilmarnock, with all bar three from the bench.

Crawford was tight-lipped about further deals but said: “That is something that we are looking at. We will keep looking to trying to improve the squad, keep touching base with agents that we trust and people in the game that we trust. If the right fit is there then it is a discussion that I would have with (chairman) Ross McArthur.”