Ferguson’s relief as United snap up keeper Lacroix on loan

Crusaders’ French back-up keeper has joined United on loan after injuries to both of Ballymena’s senior stoppers.

Stuart Addis will undergo an operation today (Tuesday) on a broken finger sustained in the Boxing Day win at Coleraine which will keep him out for the remainder of this season, while Dwayne Nelson is currently on crutches and awaiting the results of an MRI, scan amid fears of possible cruciate knee ligament damage.

It is understood that Lacroix will return to Seaview before the end of the January transfer window, by which stage United aim to have secured the services of another keeper.

“We’re very grateful to Stephen Baxter for helping us out by loaning us Yohann,” Ferguson told Times Sport.

“He is an experienced keeper who has played at a good level previously.

“I spent most of Friday on the phone trying to sort out a keeper and the only blessing was that we don’t play until Wednesday - if we had had a game on Saturday, we would have been in big, big trouble.”

Lacroix’s registration has been completed in time for him to be eligible for the New Year’s Day game at Ards, while United goalkeeping coach Wes Lamont has also been registered as a player - at the age of 49!

* Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport to Wednesday’s match at Clandeboye Park leaves Henry Street car park at 1.30pm.