Balcombe joins St Mirren on loan from Brentford

St Mirren have signed Brentford goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe on loan for next season.

The 24-year-old becomes the Paisley side's second signing of the summer, having already added former St Johnstone defender Shaun Rooney on a pre-contract.

Balcombe came through the Brentford academy and made his first-team debut last August, saving two penalties in an EFL Cup shootout win over Newport County.

With Zach Hemming returning to parent club Middlesbrough, Stephen Robinson was searching for a new goalkeeper and says he's been an admirer of the Englishman, who has had previous loan spells at clubs including Bristol Rovers and Doncaster.

"I’ve watched Ellery for a while," manager Robinson said.

"His distribution is very good, he’s commanding in his box and I believe he’s someone that will enhance our already good record of goalkeepers.

"We were keen to keep Zach but we spoke to Middlesborough and he's their player so we have to respect that. He'll go back for pre-season and fight for a number two jersey there, but we already knew that would come."