MORTON gaffer Dougie Imrie says he's pulled off a real coup after winning the race to land Hearts defender Jamie Brandon on loan.

The 23-year-old checked in to Cappielow yesterday on a short-term deal as he looks to get more first-team action after a year out with a knee ligament injury.

The highly-rated full-back attracted interest from down south, with Leyton Orient boss Kenny Jackett last week reportedly keen on signing the Tynecastle star.

Imrie says Brandon's addition will help shore up Ton's backline and he believes the signing shows the club's strong ambition in the January transfer window.

He told the Tele: “It’s good to get a player like Jamie in.

"I know him from my time playing against him and he’s a good kid.

“It’s always good to beat competition and there was a lot of interest in Jamie on top of our own.

“Hopefully it shows that we can attract these kinds of players to the club and have that pull in the transfer market, as well as myself with it being my first role.

“He’s really athletic, two-footed and gives us options at both sides of the pitch, so for us it’s a really a good addition going into the run-in."

Imrie believes Brandon's versatility will be a huge asset in the second half of the campaign.

The Ton boss said: “Another reason that I wanted to bring him in is because he’ll give us that solidity in the backline as well as providing us with an option further up the park too if need be.

“If we’re ever struggling with injuries then he can help fill in and he has that versatility of being two-footed and being comfortable in both full-back positions.

“He’s had a bit of trouble with injuries, but he’s over it thankfully and he’s spent the first half of the season getting back to full fitness, so hopefully that means that we can get the best out of him now in his spell at the club.

“I think if it wasn’t for his injury last year, then Jamie would still be in and around the first team at Hearts at least, because he’s that highly thought of.

“He’s played over 30 or 40 games in the Premiership alone and he’s still got a lot of football in his legs at 23.

“I’m just delighted to have it done and to have him in the building.”

Imrie revealed work is being done behind the scenes to add more players to his squad before the window shuts on January 31, but the 38-year-old says it's too early to say if there will be any more arrivals this week.

He added: “It’s a bit early to say if that’s us done for the week, but there’s a lot of work being done in the background.

"We’re delighted to kick things off by getting Jamie in.

“If something else happens then we’ll see what happens and deal with it as it comes.

“As it stands there’s nothing imminent in regards to players coming in.”