The 20-year-old centre back is the latest new face to arrive at Balmoral Stadium as Cove Rangers gear up for their first match back in the third-tier of Scottish football this Saturday.

Cove Rangers have signed another recruit in their major summer signing spree – the club’s 18th ahead of the new season.

Centre-back Cameron Stewart has joined the Toonsers on a season-long loan from EFL Championship side Ipswich Town as Cove gear up for their first season back in the third-tier.

Hamilton are the first opponents of the new League One season on Saturday in a direct rematch from the weekend’s Viaplay Cup encounter in North Lanarkshire which ended in a penalty win for Cove after a 2-2 draw.

Stewart, 20, has bolstered Paul Hartley’s ranks further and was recruited as a youth at Ipswich in 2019 after catching the eye while playing for Linfield in his homeland of Northern Ireland.

The 6ft 4in defender spent last season with Crusaders and told the club’s website that Scottish football would be a “step-up” in quality.

He said: “My agent and Paul were in contact, I came up last week and really liked the set-up, and I felt right away this was the place for me. I enjoyed my time with Crusaders, it felt like I was playing proper men’s football there, and I was happy with how it went.

“I’ve watched Scottish football for years and I think it’s a good standard. It’s going to be a good test for me at this stage of my career. I know there have been a lot of changes here this summer and I’m sure I’ll settle in okay.

“For me personally, it’s all about getting as much game time as I can and trying to help the club get back up to the Championship.”

Hartley said: “He’s another good defensive option, fits the profile of the type of player we’ve been trying to sign, is young and full of energy. He’s a ball playing centre-half, but he’s also aggressive and we liked what we saw of him last week.

“Cameron comes out of a good youth set-up at a big club, he’ll have learned good habits, and this is a real opportunity for him to establish himself.

“He made an impact last week when he was here, we’ve studied a lot of his footage from last season, and I’m looking forward to working with him.”