ON-LOAN Celtic defender Adam Montgomery was added to the Aberdeen squad to add competition to the left-back spot.
In an eleventh-hour deadline deal, Dons boss Stephen Glass beat off interest from former Pittodrie gaffer Derek McInnes, who wanted the Scotland Under-21 international for Championship outfit for Championship outfit Kilmarnock to bolster their promotion bid.
Montgomery made his Hoops debut in May last year and has turned out 20 times for the Parkhead club, including eight in Europe this season.
He was an unused substitute in the 1-1 draw with Ross County in Dingwall on Tuesday – 24 hours before his parent club went to the top of the Premiership following a rousing 3-0 win over Rangers in front of 60,000 fans at Parkhead.
Ange Postecoglou was eager for his 19-year-old prospect to get some much-needed game time in the second half of the campaign and Glass said: “Adam adds real competition because he can play in multiple positions.
“He has obvious qualities.
PITTODRIE APPEARANCE…Adam Montgomery celebrates after setting up the winner for Filipe Jota (extreme right) earlier in the season.
“It is an important one because Jack Mackenzie has not started a game since Dundee United away in November.
“Before that it was mid-October, so it has been a long time since Jack has been on a pitch for us.
“We need to make sure we have cover for Jack and there will be times when Jack is cover for Adam and Jonny Hayes.
“There are three players, plus Matty Kennedy, vying for that one position.”
Glass, speaking to the Press and Journal, added: “There are a lot of players who are capable of playing in that position and it is important that competition is there.
“If we didn’t add Adam then it might have been too comfortable for some.
“They need to know they need to work hard to get in the team.”
Montgomery was one of three recruits in the recent transfer window with Vicente Besuijen and Dante Polvara also signed.
At the same time, six players exited Pittodrie. Ryan Hedges (Blackburn Rovers), Niall McGinn (Dundee), Jack Gurr (Sacramento Republic) and Ronald Hernandez (Atlanta United) all quit the club while Matty Longstaff (Newcastle United) and Austin Samuels (Wolves) had their season-long loan deals cut short.
