Norwich goalkeeper Jon McCracken joins Dundee on a season-long loan deal

Goalkeeper Jon McCracken said “it feels great” after joining Dundee from Norwich on a season-long loan deal.

The 23-year-old began his career at Hamilton before joining the Canaries in 2016.

McCracken, who has had loan spells at League of Ireland side Bohemians and more recently Stevenage, was recruited by Dundee boss Tony Docherty and the former Scotland under-17 keeper told the club’s official website: “It feels great, there has been a bit of interest for a while now, so I’m glad to get it done and to be here.

“I spoke to the gaffer quite a few times over the last couple of weeks and once I spoke to him my mind was pretty much made up on where I wanted to go and it was just a matter of getting the green light from Norwich to come up.

“The gaffer said ‘you’ll come in and fight for your jersey’ and that was my mind made up. I am hoping for a successful season for me personally and the club.

“I am aiming to get as many games as I can and hopefully help Dundee to get as many clean sheets as possible.”

McCracken trained with his new team-mates on Monday morning and will travel with the Dundee squad to their training camp in Ireland.

Docherty said: “We are delighted to have him in the building, he is an extremely talented young goalkeeper from Norwich who they rate very highly.

“He now just needs to get to that next stage in his career in terms of his development, so we are delighted to have him on board.

“He’s a big character, a great personality and from what we’ve heard and seen of him we are very impressed.

“He’ll be coming to Ireland with us to integrate with the boys. I’ve said to Jon he’s in a fight for the jersey and that number one spot and that’s what I want all over the squad that competition, because that healthy level of competition keeps everyone on their toes and improves the standard.”

Docherty also welcomed Owen Beck from Liverpool on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old left-back, who has been at Anfield since Under-13 level, had loan spells with Famalicao in Portugal’s top division and Bolton. He has also played for Wales at Under-17 and Under-21 level.

Docherty said: “I am thrilled we’ve managed to land Owen for the season and I think it’s fantastic for the club to be able to get somebody of his standard.

“There was a lot of interest from other clubs and he could have joined some good English teams, but the fact that he chose us shows where the club is at the moment.

“He is a hugely talented player, you don’t get offered a long-term contract at Liverpool if you are not. He just needs to find his way in terms of this period in his career.

“We think Dundee Football Club are the platform for him. I’ve had loads of experience working with young loan players coming up from down south, so I know as well as Stuart what we as a club need to do for him and that’s providing him with that platform.

“I think we are getting an extremely exciting player, a left-back who likes to go forward and play as a wing-back, has very good delivery, and is excellent on the ball.

“There are also areas of his game that we are going to help him develop too. I would like to put on record our thanks to Liverpool Football Club and a special thanks to Matt Newberry. I am sure the Dundee fans will see his quality when he comes in.”