Colchester United striker Denny Johnstone has left the Essex club to join St Johnstone on a season-long loan.

The 22-year-old Scotsman has failed to settle in League Two with the U’s, since his switch from Birmingham City last summer, mustering just two goals in 30 league appearances.

Scotsman Johnstone has therefore returned to his native Scotland – he began his professional career as a trainee at Celtic and had a season-long loan at Greenock Morton in 2015-16 - and should make his St Johnstone debut against Celtic this Saturday,

“Denny (Johnstone) has gone out on a season-long loan,” confirmed U’s boss John McGreal, at this lunchtime’s weekly press conference ahead of the U’s home game against Forest Green Rovers this Saturday.

McGreal continued: “He started at Accrington Stanley (substituted at half-time on the opening day of the season), but has not been in the team (starting XI) since.

“The St Johnstone manager, Tommy Wright, spoke to me on Tuesday night to see if Denny might be available.

“And it’s now all been agreed.

“Denny leaving should free up some money – the full amount – to get someone else in.

“I’m trying to get in a goal-scoring forward, to get someone into the building.

“We need an individual to just get us over the line, someone to help out Mikail (Mandron) and Drey (Wright), because we have been getting into some good areas,” added McGreal.