DONE DEAL | Josh Umerah makes Scottish Premiership loan move

George Jones reports

Academy graduate Josh Umerah has joined Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock on loan for the rest of the season.

Umerah, who has been with the club since U11 level, scored 18 times for Jason Euell’s development squad in 2015/16 and has been equally as productive in front of goal this season.

He found the net for our U23s in their 4-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Monday afternoon and his temporary move north of the border now presents him with the opportunity to get a taste of first-team football on a regular basis.

Manager Karl Robinson said: “Josh had a number of different options but we felt the SPL and some of the clubs in it – Rangers, Celtic, Hearts – there are some big football clubs up there and he’ll be playing in front of some big crowds. To play for Charlton Athletic, you need to know how to cope with that.

“Kilmarnock Manager Lee Clark is someone I know well and Josh is a real good’un. We wish him the best of luck and as soon as we mentioned it to him he was jumping at the opportunity. Our young players need to go and play, they’re the future of the club and hopefully Josh and Brandon at Bromley can go and get maximum minutes.”

Catford-born Umerah has shone in the Addicks’ youth ranks since joining the club a decade ago. He finished as our U18s’ top scorer in 2015 and did likewise for our U23s 12 months later.

He was rewarded with his first-team debut in January 2016 and has gone on to make two further senior appearances for the club, the latest of which came at Southend United on New Year’s Eve.