CHRIS LAKEY King's Lynn have signed former Scotland Under-21 keeper Scott Howie as cover for first choice Shaun Marshall.

CHRIS LAKEY

King's Lynn have signed former Scotland Under-21 keeper Scott Howie as cover for first choice Shaun Marshall.

Linnets boss Keith Webb moved for the 35-year-old Glaswegian after attempts to bring in Joe Welch from Championship side Southend fell through at the 11th hour.

Webb has been searching for a keeper since Paul Crichton returned to Cambridge United a fortnight ago and revealed that Howie was recommended to him by former Linnets boss Tony Spearing.

“We had a situation where I lost Jon Higgs and Shaun Marshall was carrying an injury,” said Webb. “I got Paul Crichton in from Cambridge and we did really well, but then they recalled him - even though I was under the impression he was with us to the end of the season.

“That left me short at a stage of the season where we are trying to get ourselves into the play-offs. Losing Shaun Marshall would have left us in a predicament and I needed a back-up quickly.

“I had one in last Friday but he changed his mind at the last minute and that left me in a quandary, but then Tony Spearing mentioned Scott and he was happy to come here.

“Scott is an experienced keeper and a good keeper who won't let us down.”

Howie retired in May last year, principally to set up his own business as a tax consultant for footballers.

However, Webb said Howie was fit enough to take his place in the Linnets' squad.

“He's kept himself fit, there are no worries on that score,” he said.

Howie began his career in 1991 with Clyde, making 55 appearances before joining Norwich for £300,000 in August 1993 as understudy to Bryan Gunn.

However, he started only one game for City - a 3-3 draw at Swindon in February 1994 - before moving to Motherwell in October 1994. He made 69 appearances for the Steelmen and had a loan spell at Coventry in early 1998 before signing for Reading where he made more than 100 appearances.

In August 2001 he was on the move again, this time to Bristol Rovers where after more than 100 games he joined Shrewbsury, for whom he appeared 89 times.

Howie moved to Cambridge United and was first choice keeper for the 2005-06 season making 33 appearances, but retired last May to concentrate on his business interests - although he made himself available for Cambridge