Duberry left Reading in the summer to join Wycombe

St Johnstone have signed former Chelsea and Leeds defender Michael Duberry until the end of the season.

Duberry had his contract cancelled at Wycombe Wanderers and joins the McDiarmid Park club as a free agent.

Spells with Stoke and Reading preceded Duberry's move to Wycombe in the summer, where he made 19 appearances.

The 34-year-old will go into the Saints squad for Saturday's Active Nation Scottish Cup tie with Dundee United, subject to international clearance.

Duberry won a League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup medal during his time with Chelsea and will be reunited with another former Stamford Bridge player, Jody Morris, in Perth.

"I just want to play football and, when myself and Wycombe agreed to part company, Jody encouraged me to join St Johnstone," Duberry told the club's official website.

"Jody and I have been close friends for many years and I know that when he went through a similar period of not knowing where his future lay, St Johnstone gave him a home and I know how content he is up here.

"That's had a big influence on my decision to join Saints."

Manager Derek McInnes has already bolstered the St Johnstone defence with the loan capture of Bolton's Mark Connolly and striker Cillian Sheridan has also been brought in on loan from Celtic.

We can't mask the disappointment of losing to Rangers at Hampden. You can let the disappointment affect you or you can meet the next challenge head on Derek McInnes

Meanwhile, Stuart McCaffrey faces a six-week lay-off for Saints after undergoing a groin operation.

Fellow defender Kevin Rutkiewicz has returned to training but will not be ready in time for Saturday's cup derby.

And manager Derek McInnes is urging his side to get over the disappointment of Tuesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers when they host United.

"We can't mask the disappointment of losing to Rangers at Hampden," said McInnes.

"We put huge expectation to get to the final and just came up short.

"You can let the disappointment affect you or you can meet the next challenge head on, and that's what we'll do on Saturday."

The Saints boss says he expects a tight game, similar to the previous three meetings this season, but feels there is more onus on United to produce success than his side.

"The pressure on them is to win a trophy," he added.

"With the players they have they should be challenging and getting to cup finals."

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