Kilmarnock bring in Dale Carrick and Stuart Findlay

Dale Carrick left Hearts by mutual consent on Wednesday

Kilmarnock have agreed a two-year deal with former Hearts striker Dale Carrick after signing defender Stuart Findlay from Celtic on a season-long loan.

Carrick, 21, scored eight times in 53 appearances for the Tynecastle club but was released on Wednesday in order to seek first-team football.

Findlay, 19, has had similar loan stints with Morton and Dumbarton.

Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke said: "He's got a lot of attributes I like. He's left-sided, quick and strong."

Of the Scotland Under-21 centre-back, Locke added: "I'm sure at the minute he feels he is good enough to play for Celtic - well, this is his chance to prove it."

Carrick will become the seventh player to join the Rugby Park squad during summer after Findlay, Scott Robinson, Jamie MacDonald, Kallum Higginbotham, Kris Boyd and Stevie Smith.

Findlay played in Celtic's 2-0 friendly win over Den Bosch earlier this month

However, Locke is resigned to losing playmaker Alexei Eremenko, while former captain Manuel Pascali has already returned to his native Italy.

"I've spoken to Alexei regularly over the summer and it looks like he's going to go elsewhere, which obviously leaves us disappointed," confirmed Locke.

"We have tried to keep him. We tried everything we possibly could and he got a good offer from the club.

"But unfortunately it sounds like he has been offered more money elsewhere."