MORTON manager Dougie Imrie has moved quickly to replace Jay Emmanuel-Thomas by securing the loan signing of Filip Stuparevic.

The 24-year-old Serbian star becomes Imrie's 13th signing of the summer after he signed a season-long loan from Premiership side Motherwell.

Imrie was thrust back into the market with little over a week of the loan window remaining, after the shock departure of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas late last week, who had his contract terminated after only 52 days.

The one-time Arsenal man was charged and subsequently denied bail in connection to a £600,000 drug seizure at London's Stanstead Airport earlier this month.

Stuparevic, 24, will replace the former Livingston and Aberdeen man as Dougie Imrie's no.9 and goes straight into the squad ahead of tomorrow's trip to top-of-the-table Ayr United.

Imrie had cast his net far and wide to fill the void left behind at the top end of the pitch and it is understood that he'd ran the rule over an ex-Championship striker over the course of the week. But he's now got his man in the form of the Steelmen front man.

The six foot striker only arrived at Motherwell in the summer after scoring seven goals and picked up two assists for Slovenian side, NK Domzale last term. He made a quick impact for the Fir Park side, netting a superb left footed curling effort in a Premier Sports Cup victory over Clyde back in July.

His career though, makes for fascinating reading since becoming the youngest player to ever make an appearance in Serbian top flight football at just 15 for Voždovac.

This saw him earn a multi-million pound move to Watford in 2018, where he spent time on loan back at his former side before a having another temporary spell in the Czech Republic with Příbram.

Upon his departure from Vicarage Road, The Serbian forward would return to his homeland, penning a deal with Metalac Gornji Milanovac where he scored five goals and assisted twice across 28 games.

Ton boss Imrie commented on how vital Stuparevic's experience be as he navigates his first season in Scotland and he anticipates that fans will get off their seats as a result.

Speaking to GMFC.net, he said: “Filip is an extremely talented player that will get the fans off their seat.

"He is just 24-years-old but joins with a wealth of experience and he will be real asset to the team. I am delighted to welcome him to the club.”