ST MIRREN have added to their squad ahead of tonight’s Renfrewshire derby by signing former Dundee United defender Keith Watson on a short-term deal. Manager Ian Murray was in need of a right-back following the news that Jason Naismith will be out of action for six months after suffering knee ligament damage in Saturday’s defeat to Dumbarton.

Now Watson, who has signed until January, could be given a baptism of fire when St Mirren travel to local rivals Morton tonight for the first league meeting between the two sides for 15 years. Murray admitted he would have no hesitation in handing the 25 year-old a first start at Cappielow.

“Keith was someone we looked at a couple of weeks ago in terms of someone who could play several positions and once we knew we needed a right back in he was our first name,” said the St Mirren manager who is also closing in on deals to recruit Andy Webster and Lawrence Shankland.

“To get it done now in time for tonight is great. We’ve signed him, he’s ready to go, he’s fit and that’s the main thing so he certainly comes into our thoughts for tonight. We needed someone to come in and play in that position so to get someone of Keith’s calibre, pedigree and experience is great.

“Now we’ve got to try and get him into our team, get him used to our system, get him used to our players and hopefully he has a great start to his career tomorrow.”

Watson, who spent last season at Hibs, was glad to have secured a short-term deal. He said: “It’s been a long summer and I’m absolutely delighted to come here, do well for St Mirren and hopefully get as much games as I can.

“I did quite a bit of training with Hibs over the summer and got quite a lot of running there, and I was also in Aberdeen for a couple of weeks and trained with them, so I think my fitness will be fine. I haven’t played any pre-season friendlies but hopefully I can get into the team and that’ll come through games.

“I was on loan at Hibs last season from January till the end of the season. I know it’s a tough league and every game is going to be a tough game so we’re going to have to be at it every week if we want to be up there and fighting for promotion. I want to be playing football, I want to be playing well and I want the team to be playing well too.”