St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair is set for the next stage of his development in the game after joining Cowdenbeath on loan.
The 19-year-old has joined up with the Central Park side for their upcoming League Two campaign and has highlighted the importance of securing more game-time.
Sinclair, who is from Scone, has previously been on loan at BSC Glasgow in the Lowland League and, last season, spent time with Brechin City.
“I’m buzzing to get back out on loan and it’s the next stage of my development,” Sinclair told the PA. “I’ve now got an opportunity to play games.
“I’ll just be taking it game by game to hopefully progress my career further. It’s about getting the experience I need out of this move.
“Cowdenbeath are a good side and it is always a difficult place to go. I played with them in a friendly on Saturday and it’s a good bunch of boys.
“Last year with COVID-19, the season got cut short but I also had a couple of injuries that stopped me from playing.
“I didn’t get as many games as I wanted, so this year is about playing more and taking it all in my stride. I need to progress to make the next step.”
Sinclair will be teaming-up with fellow Saints loan youngster Olly Hamilton. The pair were both at Brechin last season too.
“I’m back with Olly again,” smiled Sinclair. “I thought I was going to get away from him.
“He’s been in for a couple of weeks now, so for me going in it’s a little easier to interact with a familiar face there.
“We were on loan at Brechin together and we’re good pals.”
For Sinclair, the move to Central Park arrived after being bumped up to the Perth club’s No.2 while Zander Clark was recovering from injury.
Sinclair said: “I felt sharp when coming back to training. It was a long period off and we came back to a new gaffer.
“It was important to get in and impress him. With Zander getting injured, I had the confidence to be number two for six games. It was great to get that under my belt.
“I felt ready if I was ever needed to be called upon. I’d had the experience of being on the bench once before, but getting a longer run you feel a part of the team.
“It’s what you want as a young player. There are not many clubs who will put a 19-year-old goalkeeper on the bench.
“I take some confidence from that, knowing that they put faith in me. Hopefully there will be more chances through the years.”
There, too, is a desire to continue to represent the national team.
Sinclair was pencilled in to fly out with Scotland’s under-19 squad for Euro qualifiers earlier this year but the COVID-19 pandemic scrapped plans.
“It got postponed to September and has been now been postponed again,” Sinclair said. “I think it is now dated for November.
“I’m hoping I can do well over the next few weeks and have my spot in the squad.
“We finished the last group strong and the team will be looking to push on with that same squad.”
