DUNFERMLINE have bolstered their squad by completing the loan signing of Livingston defender Miles Welch-Hayes.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Lions in the summer, has arrived at KDM Group East End Park on loan until the end of the season, and could be in contention for a debut at Partick Thistle tomorrow evening.

Having missed out on bringing former captain, Lee Ashcroft, who chose to join Raith Rovers, back to the club from Dundee, James McPake has moved to land the right-sided centre back from Premiership Livi.

Speaking to the media yesterday (Wednesday) on having missed out on Ashcroft's signature, McPake said: "We also had to have other people there working away looking at them.

Dunfermline Press:

"Some of them are ones that you wouldn’t expect to leave their clubs, but you just never know with eight days of a window to go. You just never know, we are in constant touch with the agents and other managers.

"We will see what happens over the next day or two."

He has now made his move for Welch-Hayes, who signed for Davie Martindale's team after leaving English Football League (EFL) League Two Harrogate Town, for whom former Pars skipper, Josh Falkingham, plays.

Born in Oxford, Welch-Hayes began his career with hometown club, Oxford United, before moving to Bath City in 2017.

He has subsequently gone on to secure permanent moves to Macclesfield Town, Colchester United and Harrogate before heading north to the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Injury, however, prevented him from making his competitive debut for Livi until November, in a 1-0 defeat at Heart of Midlothian, which is one of three appearances he has made for them this season.

Livingston boss Martindale told his club's website: "It hasn’t quite clicked for Miles so far this season, with a couple of niggly injuries having stopped him from gaining much momentum.

“He’s at a stage now where he needs to be playing football to get that fitness and consistency back and hopefully he’ll be able to do that with James at Dunfermline until the end of the season.”