Northampton Town have signed central defender Ryan McGivern on a contract until January.
The 6ft 2in 27 year old Northern Ireland international, who can also operate as a left back, started his career with Manchester City where he enjoyed a number of successful loan spells with the likes of Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Bristol City, making 32 appearances for the Ashton Gate side in 2011/12 as they secured their Championship status.
He moved north of the border to make 33 appearances for Hibernian in the SPL in 2013/14 before returning to England and playing 48 times for League 1 side Port Vale from 2014 to 2016.
He was most recently with Shrewsbury Town but has signed for the Cobblers after becoming free agent just before the transfer window closed in August.
"Ryan has been training with us for a few weeks and has done well," said manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
"I feel we need to strengthen the squad in the central defensive areas and he will come in to do that.
"With Regan Poole playing a lot of his football in midfield recently and with Leon Barnett recovering from injury, while Ash Taylor and Aaron Pierre have done very well, they have had to play a lot of football recently and haven't had the benefit of competition for their places.
"Ryan coming in provides that and with him having been on the training ground with us for a while we have had the chance to have a look at him and he has already fitted in well with the group."
McGivern has made more than 200 senior appearances and been capped 24 times for Northern Ireland, most recently playing for his country in a 0-0 draw in the Czech Republic in their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign.