St Johnstone bring in Crewe goalkeeper Dave Richards on season-long loan

St Johnstone have signed long-serving Crewe goalkeeper Dave Richards on a season-long loan.

The 29-year-old Welshman has been recruited to provide competition and cover for Dimitar Mitov after back-up keeper Ross Sinclair suffered a broken arm earlier this week.

Richards, who has made 94 appearances for his parent club since joining from Bristol City in 2015, is expected to be on the Saints bench for Saturday’s Premiership match away to Ross County.

“I’m over the moon to be up here,” he told Saints TV. “We had a phone call the other day after Ross had a nasty injury that required an operation and I jumped at the chance to come up here.

“This will be my first experience of Scotland, it is the first time I’ve stepped foot in the country.

“I have heard great things about Scotland and St Johnstone so it was a no-brainer for me as soon as I got the phone call to come up.

“I played against Dimi before when he was at Cambridge. He’s a top, top goalkeeper. I’m here to work hard and push him for the number one spot.

“This is a fresh start for me and a new challenge. I’ve been at a Crewe for a long, long, long time so I am looking forward to meeting new team-mates, playing in a new country and playing in the Scottish Premiership.”

Mitov, meanwhile, is hoping his summer move to Saints from Cambridge can help him earn international recognition with Bulgaria.

The 26-year-old has made a positive impression in Perth so far despite his team’s poor start to the campaign.

“I really hope so, I really do, because I feel like I’m really close,” said Mitov when asked if he felt playing in Scotland’s top flight would boost his international chances.

“Hopefully it will happen soon but first and foremost I need to be performing, I need to be playing well, I need to be consistent with my game.

“Coming here to a top league, it’s a chance to play in huge games and show how good you are.”