Raith Rovers yesterday beat off a last-ditch bid from Hibernian to snap up freed Rangers striker Jon Daly ahead of this evening's League Cup clash with Hamilton Accies.
The former Dundee United marksman is expected to make a quick-fire debut after being added instantly to the Rovers squad for tonight's tie.
After successfully concluding a lengthy pursuit of the 32-year-old Irishman, Stark's Park manager Ray McKinnon is full of praise for his latest recruit's commitment to the deal when there were better terms on offer at Easter Road.
He said: "We've been in discussions with him for a week or so. I met him for a coffee last week and sold the club to him and then met him after the Rangers-Hibs game on Sunday and managed to convince him to come.
"Even then, he was made an offer from another club, another big club in our division, which would have been far better financially for him than we could offer.
"But I'm delighted with his attitude, that he stuck with the agreement we had already made, and that says a lot about him. He's a great signing for us. He's got great experience and he'll help Mark Stewart and Craig Wighton immensely.
"He offers us a totally different style of striker. I've said all along I've been looking for the right type of player and he's what I've wanted.
"He's someone who will hold the ball up, who's good in the air and can bring people into the game, and he'll be a massive threat in the penalty box."
Daly's arrival is timed to perfection as Raith prepare for the visit of on-form Hamilton for tonight's cup encounter in Kirkcaldy.Accies were tipped by many for the drop this season but, having lost only one of their opening four league games, McKinnon believes the visitors are instead destined for the top-six.
Asked about Hamilton's relegation predictions, McKinnon added: "That's definitely not going to happen. They've beaten Dundee United 4-0 and Inverness 2-0 in their last two games.
"They are really, really good side, a top-quality side, and I think they'll be top-six this season
."They are a really physical side at the back, they've got good young players who like to get on the ball and they have a goal threat in the boy Carlton Morris they have on loan from Norwich City.But we just have concentrate on ourselves. We've had three great performances in the league and we're looking forward to the gam
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