Harry McKirdy has returned to Swindon Town on loan until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old will spend the remainder of the campaign back at the County Ground as he looks to accelerate his return to the pitch following heart surgery. The forward was sidelined last summer after being diagnosed with a potential issue during a routine pre-season scan, and did not feature again until a brief substitute cameo against Motherwell in early January.

With Nick Montgomery having bolstered his attacking options this month with the signings of Emiliano Marcondes and Myziane Maolida, a loan deal for McKirdy was considered his best chance of regular minutes. And that has culminated in a return to his former club in EFL League Two.

“Harry has worked very hard to get back on the pitch and after everything he has been through, he is now in a good place," said the manager. “When the interest came for Harry, we had a good conversation and we felt that it would be a good opportunity for him to get more game-time than what was potentially on offer here.

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“With players coming back from international duty and injuries, this gives Harry the opportunity to push on and to come back at the end of the season with minutes under his belt at a club he is really comfortable at, and grow in confidence with each game."

McKirdy's departure is the first, and expected to be the only, departure from Easter Road on deadline day. Montgomery has signed much sought-after defensive cover in the form of two loan deals - Sunderland's Nectar Triantis and Owen Bevan of Bournemouth.