St Johnstone have signed former Walsall, Swindon and Ipswich striker Sam Parkin. The forward was available on a free transfer after leaving The Bank’s Stadium by mutual consent in May.

Parkin is St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes’ third signing of the season following the capture of fellow striker Scott Dobie and winger Cleveland Taylor, also on free transfers. He has signed a two year deal at McDiarmid Park.

Saint’s new boy spoke of his happiness at the move and said McInnes was a key factor in him making the move after having picked the wrong club more than once in his career.

"As a player you want to go where you are wanted and there have perhaps been a couple of moves in my career where that wasn't necessarily the case,” Parkin said. “I was seen as a bit of a gamble. The manager's determination to get me has been a real factor in me coming to St Johnstone and I want to repay him.

"It's a fresh challenge after ten years of coming up against the same clubs and all the opponents this season will give me something new to experience.

"For Saints, it's about improving on last year and I want to help us do that. It might take me a few games to get going but the manager has shown confidence in me and I have faith in my ability to contribute,"

The powerful striker has spent his entire career so far in England. After failing to make the first team at Chelsea, he spent time on loan at lower league clubs before signing a permanent deal with Swindon at 2002.

Parkin scored a goal every two games in his three-year stay at the County Ground before moving to Ipswich and then Luton though injuries disrupted his progress at both clubs. Following Luton’s relegation from the Football League, Parkin moved to Walsall, where he scored three goals last season.

The signing looks to be another shrewd move on McInnes’ part as he continues to exploit the connections of the experienced players in his side. Key defender Michael Duberry was persuaded to join Saints last year  after discussions with former team-mate Jody Morris and Parkin was at Chelsea with Morris early in his career.

Parkin is eligible to play for Scotland and was named by Walter Smith in a Scotland Futures match against Austria in 2005. However, the striker was injured after only 23 minutes in dark blue and did not receive a full call-up.