ATHLETIC have this morning completed the loan signing of Dundee midfielder, Paul McGowan.

The 35-year-old, who has made 14 appearances for the Championship side this season, has agreed a temporary move to KDM Group East End Park.

He will reunite with his former team-mate at Dens Park, James McPake, who also went on to become his manager until he left his role on Tayside last year.

The Pars boss has revealed that he tried to sign McGowan, who he has heralded as a "fantastic footballer" and "a winner", in the summer and January.

"He's obviously a player Dave (Mackay, assistant manager) and myself know really well," McPake said.

"He's a player that I think, over the course of our time at Dundee, played the most games for us out of everyone.

"Personally, I played with him, coached him, managed him, Dave's obviously coached him as well and, first and foremost, he's a fantastic footballer with bags of experience that, in a young group, will be very helpful.

"We do have some experience in it but, adding to that, we felt was crucial.

"It's what he brings as a character as well, in terms of the way he trains every single day. He is a winner; he wants to win in training every day.

"That's not to say other players don't, but the way he trains, the way he conducts himself round about training, what he adds to the dressing room in terms of a character as well - everything we spoke about in the transfer window - that it's not just important to add players, they've got to be the right people as well.

"In terms of people I've worked with, then Paul's at the very top when it comes to that."

Having started has career within the youth set-up at Celtic, McGowan made his Hoops debut at the age of 19, and went on to gain experience in both the Champions League and Europa League.

He signed for St Mirren in 2011 after being released by the Glasgow giants, going on to win the League Cup in 2013, before joining Dundee a year later under Paul Hartley.

McGowan has gone on to play 302 times for the Dees, and captain them, with his time there including six seasons in the top flight, plus a promotion from the Championship, under McPake, in 2021.

"Obviously, a year ago, I was playing Paul in the Scottish Premiership," McPake added.

"He started the season very well at Dundee. He's had a bit of a niggle, but he's now been back training for three-and-a-half weeks so, hence the reason it's maybe taken a bit longer.

"It's one we tried to do in August, we tried to do again in January, but we were just waiting on Paul getting back training and making sure he was ok.

"I'm delighted to get it done and delighted to be working with him again."

Dundee added: "Paul McGowan has joined Dunfermline Athletic on loan until the end of the season.

"The midfielder joined Dundee in 2014 and has been an influential figure at the club during his time at Dens.

"He has made 14 appearances this season but injury has meant that he has not featured since October.

"Paul has joined ex Dundee boss James McPake at the League One leaders."

McGowan, who will wear number 23, becomes Dunfermline's second loan signing this month, following the arrival of Ewan Otoo from Celtic.