JAMES MCPAKE has praised new signing Miles Welch-Hayes' start to life with Athletic and has backed him to play a significant role until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old joined the club on loan from Livingston last month, and made his debut as a substitute in last Friday's 3-1 win at Partick Thistle.

He was then handed his first start for Tuesday's scoreless draw at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and could play a key role after Aaron Comrie was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

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"We needed one in and, when it became clear that Aaron was out for the season, the focus shifted from centre back to right back, and we got it done," McPake said.

"He's not played a lot this season. He had played a reserve game the Tuesday before the Friday when he came here.

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"Obviously, he got on at Firhill for five, 10 minutes, whatever it was, and I thought he was decent enough. It's going to take him time to get to know everybody - he knows who they are - but in the way they work, the way we want to do things, because we've been limited in what we can do on the training pitch.

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"I was pleased with him. He's a great lad as well. He's experienced, he's came in, he's loud, and he's a good footballer. First and foremost, I think he's a good defender, and he showed that on Tuesday night.

"He's a big lad. He goes and attacks it well. He's good at defending set plays and good at attacking set plays. We know how big they are in games and it's something that had been annoying us for a wee while.

"Touch wood that, with the players coming back and the work we've done, we're getting a wee bit better, but I'll never say never with those ones."