Hearts hero returns to Scottish football to sign for cinch Premiership side

The 32-year-old has penned a two-year contract to sign for the Perth outfit, who are hoping to bounce back this campaign after almost dropping out of the top flight last season.

McGowan is a hero at Tynecastle for his time with the club earlier in his career. Having come through the youth ranks, McGowan featured for the first team between 2008 and 2013, with a couple of loan deals sprinkled in between, before signing for Shangdong in China as Hearts needed the transfer money due to their financial problems at the time.

The Australian’s greatest moment in maroon came during the 2012 Scottish Cup final where, for the second time that season, the right-back netted from a yard out against Edinburgh rivals Hibs. It was Hearts’ fourth goal in their 5-1 win and the moment which let everyone in attendance know for certain the cup was coming back to Gorgie.

Following his departure, he returned to Scotland with Dundee United in the 2015 January transfer window. He would remain a year before leaving once again for China with Henan Jianye. He came back again to sign for Dundee in the second half of the 2018/19 season on loan from Bradford City.

Now more a centre-back than a full-back, he’ll be expected to shore up the right side of the St Johnstone back three. It’s been a problem area for boss Callum Davidson since the 2021 double-winners sold Jason Kerr to Wigan Athletic.

After managing to negotiate his way out of his deal with Kuwait SC, McGowan spoke of his happiness at being able to return to his “second home”.

“I’m delighted to get the deal done. It has been a long process trying to get out of my previous club, I am delighted to be here and I am looking forward to get started.

“There has been interested for a couple of weeks