ATHLETIC have bolstered their squad for the Championship run-in by swooping for highly-rated Celtic youngster Ewan Henderson.

The attacking midfielder, who turns 21 today, has completed a loan move until the end of the season and could be in line for a debut in this evening's clash with play-off rivals Dundee.

Henderson, the younger brother of current Lecce player, and former Hoops star Liam, is a product of the Glasgow giants' youth academy and made his debut in 2018 against Kilmarnock.

He made his first start for Celtic against Motherwell in February 2019, earning the man of the match award in a 4-1 win, and enjoyed a loan spell with Ross County between September of that year and January 2020, making 10 appearances for the Premiership side.

This season, Henderson has made three sub appearances for Celtic's top team - in a Europa League win over Lille, and league draws with Hibernian and Livingston - but has now joined Stevie Crawford's side to aid their promotion push.

Capped by Scotland at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, Henderson could fill the void left by Kyle Turner, who departed for Airdrieonians on loan after it was revealed he had rejected a new deal to stay at East End.

That also allowed the Pars to reach an agreement to keep Kyle MacDonald, who they had signed from the Diamonds in January, rather than him returning to the League One club on loan which had been a condition of the player's transfer.

Henderson and his new team-mates visit Dens Park this evening for a 7.20pm kick-off, live on BBC Scotland, in a clash that is vital in the play-off race.

Dunfermline, in third, have 30 points - the same as second top Raith Rovers, who they visit on Tuesday, and fourth-placed Dundee - having played a game fewer.

In four away league fixtures in 2021, the Pars have collected only one point and have failed to score, and drew a blank on Tuesday evening as they were knocked out of the Scottish Cup on penalties by Greenock Morton.

Their last match at Dens Park in December saw them go 3-0down before staging a dramatic comeback, with Declan McManus' stoppage-time free-kick salvaging an incredible 3-3 draw.