MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Zach Hemming says he "can't wait to get going" after joining St Mirren on loan for the coming season.

It'll be the third successive year for the Boro keeper in Scotland after two loan spells at Kilmarnock.

Hemming still has three years to run on his Boro contract, but with Michael Carrick prioritising the signing of a new keeper this summer and with Liam Roberts and Sol Brynn - who recently signed a new deal - also on the club's books, Boro sanctioned another loan exit for the academy graduate so he can benefit from another season of regular football.

"I’m delighted to be here," Hemming told St Mirren's club website.

"I remember seeing the team when I was at Kilmarnock and it seems very structured and everyone knows their role in the team.

"The manager knows how capable I am and what I can do so I just want to impress. I can’t wait to get going."

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Hemming made 54 appearances over the course of two seasons with Kilmarnock, winning promotion in his first campaign and spending the second season in the top flight, where he'll return with St Mirren.

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson said: "Zach is someone that we have been looking at for a while. We watched him at Kilmarnock and I know the goalkeeping coach at Middlesborough.

"We’ve had really good reports on Zach and we’ve seen him close hand so I’m very confident that he will come in and do well.

"He’s a young, enthusiastic goalkeeper and we’re delighted to have him in."

With Zack Steffen having returned to Manchester City at the end of last season after his loan spell on Teesside, Boro are in the market for a new keeper this summer, with Newcastle United's Karl Darlow a leading target.