Ross County are close to finalising a deal to sign goalkeeper Ross Doohan on loan from Celtic.
The 22-year-old featured as a trialist for the Staggies in yesterday’s 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park against his parent club.
The game started ominously for Doohan when an early goal from Coll Donaldson after three minutes and Mohamed Elyounoussi’s smart finish put the Hoops two goals ahead less than quarter of an hour played.
But Doohan and the Staggies defence held firm after that early setback as the Scottish Premiership champions had to be content with two goals to show for their dominance.
Doohan has spent the past two seasons on loan at Ayr United, keeping 30 clean sheets in 80 appearances for the Honest Men.
County manager Stuart Kettlewell is hopeful a deal for the Scotland under-21 international can be completed in time for his side’s Scottish Premiership season-opener against Motherwell next Monday.
He said: “I hope we can maybe get something done probably Tuesday and get him in for the start of the season.
“We know him well as a goalkeeper and we have seen what he’s done while on loan at Ayr United.
“Ross has been top of the list for us for a period of time.
“It has been pending for three or four weeks, but it looks like it’s going to get done.”
Doohan’s move to Dingwall appears dependent on when Celtic can sign a new goalkeeper of their own.
The Hoops are without last season’s first choice shot-stopper Fraser Forster following the end of his loan spell from Southampton, while Craig Gordon elected to join former club Hearts when his contract expired.
Doohan is expected to be on the bench when Celtic take on Hibernian in another friendly today before his move to Ross County is given the green light.
Kettlewell added: “We knew we just had to get to the stage where Celtic are obviously looking to spend a bit of money and bring somebody else in and that would trigger us getting Ross.
“We feel he’ll be a really good addition to the group and we’re really looking forward to getting him in.
“I think he will be on the (Celtic) bench on Monday for the game against Hibs and then we hope we can get something done probably Tuesday and integrate him for the start of the season.”
Yesterday’s 2-0 friendly defeat by Celtic came 24 hours after Ross County drew 2-2 with Livingston on Saturday.
Ross Stewart and Liam Fontaine were on target for the Staggies as they came back from two goals down.
