Raith boss Ray McKinnon has signed highly-rated striker Harry Panayiotou from English Premier League pace-setters Leicester on loan until the end of the season.
The Saint Kitts and Nevis international made a big impact for the Foxes Under-21 side last term with the club now looking for him to develop by playing first-team football.
The Rovers manager has been on the hunt for a front man following the departure of Craig Wighton along with Jon Daly and he is delighted to pick up someone of Panayioutou’s pedigree, especially as Raith have failed to find the back of the net in their last four games.
However, McKinnon is keen that the 21-year-old is not regarded as the Kirkcaldy side’s goal-scoring “saviour” and he is given time to settle in to a new club and country.
The manager said: “We’ve agreed terms with Leicester City to sign Harry Panayiotou, a young striker of theirs, on loan for the rest of the season.
“He’s been capped a few times by Saint Kitts and Nevis.
“He was their top goal-scorer and was named young player of the month in the Under-21s Premier League last season and Leicester’s young player of the year.
“He’s coming with a good reputation and we’re taking a chance on him.
“Speaking to their Under-21 manager, Steve Beaglehole, he thinks he’ll do a right good job for us.
“We were tipped off about him. Steve said Ross County tried to bring him up last season. He wasn’t interested but he’s keen this time.
“I don’t want him billed as the saviour but hopefully he’ll settle and do well for us and add a wee bit of a goal-threat for us.”
McKinnon has been running the rule over another front man in training this week, former Norwegian youth cap Mergim Hereqi, with the manager set to make his mind up on whether to pursue his interest today.
He added: “Mergim trained in the wind and rain on Tuesday, so it was difficult for him, and we’ll take another look at him.
“He’ll train again on Friday and we’ll make a decision on him.
“You can’t play trialists in the Championship, which makes it difficult to have a look at players in game situations.”
Raith created enough chances to win last weekend’s game against Dumbarton but had to settle for a draw with the match ending goal-less.
McKinnon was left frustrated, like many of the club’s fans, but he is sure his side will return to winning ways soon and asked the support to remain patient.
He said: “We created a lot of chances again on Saturday but we couldn’t get the ball in the net. We had shots cleared off the line and we should have had a penalty.
“We’re just not getting the rub of the green right now. We’re creating chances and by the law of averages they’ve got to go in some time.
“I share the frustrations of the supporters when we’re not winning and not converting the chances to win games.
“But we’ve been hampered by injuries and we’ve not got the biggest budget in the league by any stretch of the imagination.
“We would all love to bring in a proven goal-scorer but finances are tight and it’s not that easy.
“We need to have patience. The boys will do the business, it will happen, and hopefully the fans can keep giving the team their backing.”
Mark Stewart has suffered a back spasm and has been sent to see a chiropractor, so he is rated as doubtful for tomorrow’s game.