St Mirren have got a goalkeeper to play this weekend after signing Zdenek Zlamal on an emergency loan deal.
Zlamal has arrived from Championship side Hearts as the Buddies get the experienced Czech stopper for seven days.
Zdenek Zlamal has signed for St Mirren. (photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)
The Buddies have been forced into finding a new goalkeeper at less than 24 hours notice after positive COVID-19 test results dominated their build-up to this afternoon’s meeting with Hibs.
Number one goalkeeper Jak Alnwick was confirmed to have had the virus on Thursday morning before an unnamed player was confirmed as also having a positive test. That man was later confirmed to be backup keeper Dean Lyness.
It left the gloves to third-choice Peter Urminsky but he is having to self-isolate as a precaution. Jim Goodwin has scrambled to get a goalkeeper and he has one in.
This game was in doubt on Friday after the two positive tests. It was confirmed on Friday evening that it was safe to play following a meeting between the Scottish government and the Joint Response Group.
St Mirren chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick said: “It been a testing 72 hours for our club. I would like to put on record my thanks to Hearts FC for working with us on this signing.
“The signing of Zlamal on loan gives us an experienced goalkeeper for the coming games. We are delighted that Zlamal has joined us on a short term loan deal. Our country is experiencing uncertain times with new restrictions being placed on communities across Scotland daily and in football we are no different.
“Our club has shown amazing resilience and agility in the last few days and we enter the Hibernian match with ambition of getting three points for our fans. I am proud of how the St Mirren family have again rallied together in these testing times.”