Hearts sign goalkeeper Silva to provide competition for Zlamal

Hearts have completed their 12th signing of the summer by handing goalkeeper Kevin Silva a two-year deal.

The American shot-stopper has spent the last month on trial with Craig Levein’s squad and has impressed enough to earn a contract.

The 20-year-old’s previous playing experience has come in the US college set-up following stints at Rutgers University and the University of California and Los Angeles.

He has already featured for Hearts during their pre-season clashes with Arbroath, Partick Thistle, Queen of the South and Forfar.

Hearts have already signed Czech goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal to replace last season’s No 1 Jon Mclaughlin, but Silva will now join the battle for the starting spot. He was on the bench against Cove last night. l St Mirren midfielder Jordan Kirkpatrick could miss the first three months of the season after Alan Stubbs revealed he had damaged knee ligaments.

Kirkpatrick, 26, suffered the injury early in the second half of Friday night’s Betfred Cup clash with Kilmarnock.

The former Hamilton and Dumbarton player is back in Paisley after spending the second half of last term on loan at Alloa. But he has now suf- fered a fresh setback in his bid to force his way into Stubbs’ line-up.

“It’s not such good news with Jordan,” said new Saints manager Stubbs. “Unfortunately he’s got a medial ligament injury which could potentially keep him out for something in the region of eight to 12 weeks.

“He doesn’t need an operation which is a little crumb of comfort. But he is obviously going to miss a number of weeks which is a real blow.”

0 Kevin Silva: Two-year deal.