Aberdeen sign Red Star winger Josh Parker on loan

JOSH Parker has travelled far and wide before being united with Derek McInnes but he believes his journey will help both him and Aberdeen.

New Aberdeen signing Josh Parker is unveiled to the press. Picture: SNS

Dons manager McInnes has signed the English-born forward on loan from Red Star Belgrade until January – several years after initially trying to take him from QPR to St Johnstone on a temporary basis.

Parker, 24, who captains Antigua and Barbuda, went from west London to Oldham and Oxford before moving to the Slovenian top flight with Domzale. He then signed a three-year deal with former European champions Red Star in January and is looking to continue his unique football education in Scotland.

The pacy frontman, who can also play on the wing, told RedTV: “I made it hard for myself when I left QPR because my head and my heart were still there. I didn’t realise what effect leaving had on me. I went on a downward spiral that a lot of players go on. My girlfriend at the time fell pregnant and that’s when it hit me. I let myself fall down the football ladder and into the same trap many people do.

“I said to my agent that I needed to get out of here, to take myself away from the distractions and the fake persona that a lot of footballers like to have. I wanted to see how far I could get just by focusing on football and nothing else.”

McInnes said: “He’s somebody that we became aware of again at the back end of last season and we have monitored the situation. He has good flexibility but he has real pace and will give us an added dimension up front. He’s a talented player that can score goals. I feel we are getting him at a good stage in his career.”