Hibernian have brought in Stoke midfielder Tom Soares and Coventry defender James McPake to boost their ranks for the rest of the season.
Both players have made loan moves to Easter Road, it was confirmed on Monday, with former Livingston player McPake relishing his return to Scottish football and Soares eager for a career lift after struggling in the Barclays Premier League.
Attacking midfielder Soares joined Stoke from Crystal Palace for £1.25million in 2008 but has been unable to establish himself in manager Tony Pulis' first team.
Following loans at Charlton and Sheffield Wednesday, Soares, 25, now heads north of the border in the hope of playing regular football. He is now hoping for a possible debut for Pat Fenlon's side against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.
Soares told Hibernian's official website: "I've been impressed with what I've seen at Hibs so far and now I want to repay the manager's faith in me by delivering some performances in the team.
"I've settled in quickly and I'll be ready for Rangers, if selected by the manager. I'm really hungry to get my career back on track and to show the Hibs fans what I'm all about."
McPake, a 27-year-old centre-back, has struggled with injury over the last 18 months and fallen down the pecking order at the Ricoh Arena, making just three league starts this term.
The Scot, signed from Livingston in January 2009, denied reports earlier this month he had handed in a transfer request to Coventry, who are battling for survival in the npower Championship. However he has always stressed his desire for regular first-team football and now links up with Hibs on a deal until June 30.
The Edinburgh club currently sit just one place and one point above bottom side Dunfermline in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
McPake told www.hibernianfc.co.uk: "I'm really pleased to be on board with Hibs and can't wait to get started - I'll be counting the days until the match at Ibrox. Ever since I moved down the road I've watched a lot of SPL football and cannot believe a club of Hibernian's size are in the position they're in."
Comment 1 - 3 of 3
s till need another another strong centre half that wont be bullied like the two we have at the moment
No chance we will go down think we need 1 more big defender and a top notch goal scorer but we won't go down
We are going to need more than these two guys, to start we need a goalkeeper, a class right back another hard centre half to stand with mcpake, and a midfielder that can see the pass and deliver it accurately, but the defence has got to be sorted or we will go down
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