Josh Clarke: Doncaster Rovers sign Partick Thistle goalkeeper

Doncaster Rovers have signed goalkeeper Josh Clarke on a loan deal from Partick Thistle only weeks after the 21-year-old moved from Glasgow neighbours Celtic – and will join the League One club permanently in January.

Rovers say the 21-year-old will sign a “long-term contract” when he joins for an undisclosed fee.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 international initially joined the Jags on loan from Celtic last summer and signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Scottish Championship club permanently in February.

Thistle say Doncaster have the option of making the deal permanent in January, with sporting director Ian Baraclough telling his club website: “To secure Josh’s services for the back end of last season and agree a permanent deal for this summer, we had to include a clause that would allow him to move on if a club of a certain level, such as Doncaster, were to make a move.”

Clarke, who was called up to the senior Northern Ireland squad in March and June, kept 14 cleans sheets in 42 appearances as Thistle finished second in Scotland’s second tier before missing out on promotion when losing to St Mirren in the Premiership play-off final.

Thistle head coach Mark Wilson added: “Obviously it’s a real shame to lose Josh, but that’s football.

“When a team performs well, there’s going to be attention drawn to certain players and it’s a really good opportunity for him. He’s got the ability to go a long way.”

Thistle had agreed a similar pre-contract deal with right-back Ben McPherson and the 22-year-old’s two-year deal has now been confirmed following his exit from Celtic after making 40 appearances for the Firhill club last season.