DUNFERMLINE have announced the signing of Dundee goalkeeper Harry Sharp as it was revealed Deniz Mehmet will miss the start of the season.
This afternoon, the Pars completed a loan deal until January for Sharp, 22, who will go into the squad for Saturday's Championship opener with Airdrieonians at KDM Group East End Park.
He becomes their fifth recruit of the summer, following the acquisitions of Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Ewan Otoo and Sam Fisher - who arrived permanently after successful loan spells last season - and Michael O'Halloran.
News of Sharp's addition has been tempered, however, by news that first choice goalkeeper Mehmet has suffered an injury in training, with James McPake - who has confirmed that Athletic have offered a contract to former St Johnstone star, David Wotherspoon - suggesting he will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks.
#DAFC can confirm that goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet has sustained an injury in training that will require a spell on the sidelines.
— Dunfermline Athletic (@officialdafc) August 3, 2023
We wish Deniz all the best in his recovery and will continue to support him and the other players currently receiving injury rehab. pic.twitter.com/YFMlTsq11P
Speaking to Press Sport earlier this week, ahead of our print edition published today (Thursday), McPake said that, aside from Matty Todd and Ritchie-Hosler, both of whom also have ankle injuries, he had no other injury concerns other than O'Halloran, who he hoped would be fit to feature this weekend.
However, in his weekly media call today (Thursday), he said Mehmet, who played 44 times in all competitions last term, has subsequently suffered a twisted ankle after blocking a shot, which does not require surgery.
McPake has moved quickly to land Sharp, commenting: "We’ve managed to get Harry in, and Max (Little) has done great, so we’ve got two good goalkeepers here and I’ve got a decision to make on Saturday," McPake said.
“Deniz will be out for a minimum of six weeks and then we’ll try to get him back as quickly as we can.
“That’s why it was very important to get Harry in, someone I’ve worked with before. I know all about him.
“Although it wasn’t me he did really well for because I had lost my job!
“He’s one I had in the under-18s when he was 16 or 17. I saw him develop and myself and Dave gave him his debut against Elgin, and then he kept going.
“He’s a really hard worker and a really good player to work with, and I was delighted when he got into the Dundee team.
“He kept two experienced goalkeepers out of that team in the Premiership and then I believe he stared last season as the number one under Gary Bowyer as well.
“So, he’s got experience of the Premiership and the Championship and he was in the Scotland under-21s squad just last season.
“The important thing is we know him and we know how he works.
“He played on Wednesday night for Dundee, so he’s got minutes in his body and Max has had minutes when the games were piling up as well.
“So, we’re quite comfortable with the situation.
“Obviously, the personal side of it is Deniz misses out after such a successful season but we’re very comfortable with the goalkeepers we’ve got."
Aberdeen-born Sharp made his debut for Dundee in 2019 in an SPFL Trust Trophy tie with Elgin City, and played seven times for them in the Premiership during the 2021/22 campaign.
He played the same number of games last season for the Dark Blues in the Championship, starting the campaign in their team, having also played in five League Cup ties.
His two other appearances for the Dens Park club last term came in the SPFL Trust Trophy, including their 4-2 win over the Pars in January.
Sharp has previously been included in Scotland's under-21 squad and, in June, signed a new two-year contract to tie him to Dundee until the summer of 2025.
When asked about Wotherspoon, McPake said: "A deal has been offered to David and we’re waiting to hear.
"He’s trained with us and trained very well. He’s a top-quality player in my opinion.
"I played with him when he was a kid, he played in the World Cup last year, he played in the Gold Cup over the summer.
"We’ve been in contact with him for a while and started training with us last Thursday.
"He’s a good player. I like him as a person and I like him as a player."
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