Sheridan makes loan move to St Johnstone

St Johnstone have beaten Hibernian to the loan signing of Cillian Sheridan.

The Perth club today announced they had secured the Republic of Ireland striker on a deal until January after reaching agreement with CSKA Sofia.

Sheridan had been on trial with Hibernian, scoring in a 3-1 win over East Fife and impressing manager Colin Calderwood.

Calderwood said yesterday that Hibs had made an offer to the player and his club and were waiting to hear back.

But St Johnstone stepped in to bring the 22-year-old back to McDiarmid Park for a second loan spell.

A club statement said: “With the loan agreed with the Bulgarian club, Saints are now trying to push through international clearance ahead of Saturday’s game against Aberdeen.”

Sheridan netted six goals in for Saints a four-month loan from Celtic at the end of the 2010-11 season.

Saints manager Derek McInnes has been looking for strike power after his side netted just 23 goals in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last season, the lowest total in the division.

He has already signed Carl Finnigan from Falkirk and Sean Higgins from Dundee, and has had Marcus Haber and Danijel Subotic on trial.

But Sheridan’s arrival has put paid to former Portsmouth player Subotic’s chances of winning a deal despite Saints announcing earlier in the week they were looking to complete his transfer.

The statement on their official website read: “Saints will not be pursuing further interest in trialist Danijel Subotic.”