St Johnstone

Portsmouth sporting director Richard Hughes has allayed fears that Toby Steward could be recalled early from his loan to St Johnstone after the 20-year-old goalkeeper's starring role in the Scottish Championship leaders' fine start to the season. (The Courier), external

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is still very much open to the idea of signing a free agent or loan striker. (The Courier), external

Makenzie Kirk says joining Portsmouth was his preferred choice throughout the summer transfer window before the 21-year-old striker, who made his debut as a substitute in the weekend defeat by Sheffield Wednesday, signed for the Championship club instead of Peterborough United in a £500,000 deadline-day move from St Johnstone. (Portsmouth News), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has hinted that 21-year-old striker Makenzie Kirk and his agent dad Andy chose the prospect of "sitting on the bench" over the challenge of playing for the League One club when signing for Portsmouth in a near £500,000 transfer from St Johnstone. (Hard Truth podcast via The Courier), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says Josh McPake's failure to attract any interest from other clubs when the 24-year-old was made available on loan in January was a wake-up call for the winger, who has since forced his way into the starting line-up and been named Championship player of the month. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Scott Fraser, who left Dundee this summer, is now on trial with Ross County after the 30-year-old midfielder's training spell with Championship rivals St Johnstone came to an end. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Summer signing Jannik Wanner has left Livingston to join Championship side St Johnstone on a season-long loan.

The Haiti-born German winger signed a three-year deal with David Martindale's men in June to move from Austrian second-tier side SKU Amstetten.

Wanner, 25, made two appearances from the bench for Livi in the group stages of the League Cup against Brora Rangers and Kelty Hearts.

"It feels very good to be here and I am very happy for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to getting to know the fans and all of the staff. Hopefully we will have a lot of victories together," he told St Johnstone's club media.

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St Johnstone have confirmed Hearts defender Adam Forrester has returned to the Perth club on loan as part of the two clubs' cooperation agreement.

Forrester initially moved to McDiarmid Park last month before being recalled by Hearts because of an injury to fellow right-back Christian Borchgrevink.

He could make his first appearance for Saints on Saturday at Raith Rovers.

"Adam Forrester will go back to St Johnstone now," McInnes told Hearts' website last week.

"We brought Adam back a couple of weeks ago, basically because we'd had a couple of inquiries about one or two of our defenders and we just decided to wait and let the window close before we make a decision on that.

"Christian Borchgrevink will hopefully be back in the next three weeks or so, three to four weeks. And we do think that it would be fair for Adam to go out now. And Adam's understanding all that."

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Hearts right-back Adam Forrester will return to St Johnstone on loan, the Scottish Premiership club's head coach, Derek McInnes, has revealed.

The 20-year-old had moved to the Championship outfit as part of one of the new cooperation agreements that allow young players to move more easily between clubs outside of the transfer windows.

But he was recalled by Hearts within days of arriving at McDiarmid Park, and without playing a game, after an injury to summer signing Christian Borchgrevink.

"Adam Forrester will go back to St Johnstone now," McInnes told his club website. "We brought Adam back a couple of weeks ago, basically because we'd had a couple of inquiries about one or two of our defenders and we just decided to wait and let the window close before we make a decision on that.

"Christian Borchgrevink will hopefully be back in the next three weeks or so, three to four weeks. And we do think that it would be fair for Adam to go out now. And Adam's understanding all that."

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Kai Fotheringham has joined St Johnstone from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee.

United say "the deal also includes performance-based add ons and a sizeable sell-on fee".

The Scotland Under-21 forward, 22, made his United debut in October 2020 and has made 123 senior appearances, which includes games on loan at Falkirk, Raith Rovers, Cove Rangers and Stirling Albion. Fotheringham has scored 21 club goals.

He joins a St Johnstone side top of the Scottish Championship after three league wins out of three.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Simo Valakari has no issues with Hearts loanee Adam Forrester making a quick return to Tynecastle, with the St Johnstone manager saying "we all knew" how the cooperation agreements would work.

Under the new Scottish FA initiative, Premiership teams are able to send under-21 players to clubs lower in the pyramid over and above the current loan system.

Last week Hearts entered into a player partnership with St Johnstone and right-back Adam Forrester moved to Perth on a season-long loan.

However, such is the fluidity of the cooperation system, he has now returned to Tynecastle because of an injury to right-back Christian Borchgrevink.

Valakari said: "Nothing has changed. I would like to have him very much here, but we all knew it.

"Hearts have the power. Adam as a player, he knew what that type of agreement is.

"If something happens they can call him back. They did call him back so he is now there. Now he is there I am not going to waste any more of my focus on this and this.

"For me we knew it when we signed the agreement that can happen, it happened.

"Yes he can [come back to St Johnstone in the future] but I can't control what Hearts are doing, so we are focused on what we have here."

St Johnstone have rejected an offer from Peterborough United for 21-year-old striker Makenzie Kirk, having previously knocked back bids from Bristol Rovers and a Scottish Premiership club this summer as well as holding discussions with Championship rivals Dunfermline Athletic. (Daily Record), external

St Johnstone are unlikely to allow Makenzie Kirk to join Championship rivals Dunfermline Athletic, but two Premiership clubs have lodged an interest in the striker while bids have been rejected from Bristol Rovers and Peterborough United. (The Courier), external

Heart of Midlothian are considering recalling 20-year-old Adam Forrester from his loan to St Johnstone after Christian Borchgrevink was ruled out for a number of weeks with a thigh injury, leaving the Premiership club short at right-back. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Hearts have entered into a cooperation agreement with Championship side St Johnstone, the club's second under the new Scottish FA initiative.

Right-back Adam Forrester, 20, will join Simo Valakari's squad, who are targeting an immediate return to the Scottish Premiership, on loan for the remainder of the season.

Under player partnership agreements, which came into effect this summer and aim to aid the development of emerging Scottish talent, up to three young players can move more freely between the parent and lower-league club.

Premiership clubs can partner with one team in each of the three SPFL tiers below the top flight.

Derek McInnes' side last month entered into a cooperation agreement with League Two Spartans.

McInnes said Hearts are "very pleased" to partner with the Perth Saints and hopes Forrester receives game-time, which is "crucial for him to keep developing and improving".

St Johnstone have agreed a deal with Heart of Midlothian to take 20-year-old right-back Adam Forrester on loan. (The Courier), external

St Johnstone are pushing to complete the loan signing of Adam Forrester from Hearts before Friday night's league trip to Ross County after a deal was verbally agreed. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Dunfermline Athletic, Ross County and St Johnstone are all keen on a move for 22-year-old Dundee United forward Kai Fotheringham. (The Courier), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.