Young Hibees striker straight in to face Bairns

Forfar manager Stuart Malcolm has secured the loan signing of Hibernian’s teenage striker Ryan Shanley.

The 19-year-old will remain with the Station Park outfit until the end of the season and is the Loons’ third new signing in the last week after striker Steven Doris and defender Bernard Coll.

Shanley goes straight into the squad for today’s game at Falkirk.

Malcolm meanwhile has revealed that Forfar made Dale Hilson the best contract offer the club has ever come up with.

But when it became clear the striker had no intention of staying beyond the summer, it was in the Loons’ best interests to bring in his transfer cash and let him leave.

Now Malcolm’s priority is spending it.

“From day one when I came in I wanted to offer Dale a new contract,” he said.

“The offer he was made was the best the club have made to any player.

“But he told us that he would be leaving at the end of the season.

“We thought it would be better to use the money we’re getting for the transfer to Arbroath in this window. There were a few other clubs in for him as well.

“The problem is trying to spend it. This isn’t an easy window but we’ll keep on battling and hopefully get there in the end. We’ve got four in but three (Hilson, Andy Jackson and Sean Burns) have gone out.”

New recruit Doris will play a key role for the new-look Loons, claims the Forfar boss.

Malcolm said: “Doris was excellent in a bounce game we played last week.

“He’s a different type of player to Dale. He can hold the ball up really well and take it into feet.

“He’s not quite got 90 minutes in him yet. It’s between 60 and 75 just now but we’ll build that up.”

Forfar had a free weekend after their draw against Raith Rovers a fortnight ago and now face another of the title favourites, Falkirk.

“We should have won the Raith game,” said Malcolm.

“But we also could have lost it. I would have taken a point before the game, though.

“We’ll have to be at our best to take anything from this game and that’s what we’re aiming to do.”

Callum Tapping has a niggle and is a doubt, while Connor Coupe is definitely out.

Falkirk have retained the services of striker Declan Mcmanus on loan from Ross County until the end of the season.

Mcmanus has notched 18 goals in 26 appearances since joining in July and has scored seven goals in his last six games.

Ryan Shanley has joined Forfar on loan.