St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has landed his primary goalkeeping target for next term after completing the signing of Ellery Balcombe on a season-long loan from Brentford.

The 24-year-old came through the ranks with the Bees but has made only one appearance for his parent club, with the majority of his senior game time coming during loan stints at Boreham Wood, Viborg, Doncaster, Burton, Bromley and Crawley.

Robinson was quick to earmark Balcombe as his preferred choice to come in as a replacement for Zach Hemming, who has returned to Middlesbrough after his own impressive campaign on loan in Paisley.

“Ellery is someone I’ve really liked,” the manager told Saints’ website.

“I’ve watched Ellery for a while. His distribution is very good, he’s commanding in his box and I believe he’s someone that will enhance our already good record of goalkeepers.

“We were keen to keep Zach but we spoke to Middlesborough and he’s their player so we have to respect that. He’ll go back for pre-season and fight for a number two jersey there, but we already knew that would come.

“Ellery was somebody that we had been speaking to and keeping close watch on. He was our first choice to join and we’re delighted to have that over the line. It gives us a real base and our squad is taking shape nicely now.”

Balcombe is Saints’ second new signing of the summer after they announced the arrival of former St Johnstone and Fleetwood defender Shaun Rooney this week.

“I believe we need another centre midfielder,” added Robinson. “We perhaps need another forward player with a little bit more pace just to give us something different.

“Other than that, we’ll sit back and see.

“I do my business early and it allows you just to look and see if anything else comes up at the level we can afford, and then we can go to the board cap in hand and beg for a little bit more, which they’ve always been very supportive of if they feel it will take the club forward. Hopefully it will be a little bit quieter this summer.”

Robinson is philosophical about losing Australia pair Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus plus Charles Dunne under freedom of contract. Baccus has already signed for Mansfield.

“It’s just football, unfortunately,” he said. “We made offers to players that weren’t quite at the level they can get elsewhere.

“We accept that, I’ve no complaints because every player that’s leaving the football club gave me everything from the moment they walked in the door.

“We wish these three boys nothing but good luck.”