McGhie’s side have been plagued with injury problems at the back for much of the season and McWilliams will provide a temporary fix after Queen’s Park boss Gus MacPherson allowed the 22-year-old out on loan. McWilliams put in a man of the match performance in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Petershill, his home debut for the club.

McGhie said: “It’s going to help us, we’ve had a bit of a defensive crisis recently. We’re very grateful to Queen’s Park for letting David go out on loan.

“I think it will benefit all parties. He was on the bench a fair bit for Queen’s Park, they’ve been doing so well that maybe his chances of playing would be low.

“This gives him the chance to play and certainly helps us.” Looking back over 2014, the club’s fortunes have been somewhat split between the success of last season and the club’s current precarious league position, but McGhie insists the club can get back to form in 2015.

He said: “The highlights of 2014 was obviously winning the cup double and finishing fourth in the league. On top of that we played a very good brand of football during the season.

“Over the summer we couldn’t keep the team together and the rebuilding hasn’t went great in terms of results. The one thing I will say about the players that are still here is their attitude has been fantastic.” When asked to pick out the one signing from this year that he would consider his best, McGhie identified midfielder Johnny Allan.

He said: “We are delighted with the attitude young Johnny Allan shows and I think he will have a bright future if he can get away from picking up niggling injuries.”