Tranmere have given their promotion hopes a major boost by capturing on-loan midfielder Lee O’Connor on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee.

The 21-year-old signs a contract until the summer of 2024 after spending all of last season and the best part of this season on loan from Celtic.

O’Connor has played a key role in the team’s recent run of impressive form and the versatile Irishman has now committed the next two-and-a-half years to Prenton Park.

After signing his contract, O’Connor said: “I’m delighted. It was something I’ve wanted to do for a while as I’ve loved my time here so far.

“I’ve really felt at home since my first day. Not only am I enjoying it personally but I think I’m developing really well and I just want to continue that.

“I feel like this is the best thing for my career and it was an easy decision. To play your best football you have to be happy and I’m happy.

“We’re on a good run now and it’s just about keeping it going, starting with a big game on Saturday.”

Manager Micky Mellon was delighted to secure the midfielder’s services and he said: “We’re really pleased to sign Lee permanently.

“It’s really important that we have our own players when possible and everyone understands that. We’re really appreciative of our loan players but we’d always like to have players of Lee’s quality as our own player.

“We can continue to work with him, he knows where his future is going to be and we’ve got ourselves a really good midfielder/right back for the foreseeable future.

“I’m sure this will be a boost for everyone at the Club and all of the supporters”

Meanwhile, hopes of Josh Hawkes returning to Prenton Park have taken a surprise twist.

The attacking midfielder, who arrived on loan from Sunderland at the start of the season, was recalled by the Black Cats earlier this month.

It had been suggested that Hawkes - a popular player with supporters - could return to Rovers once his parent club has stabilised squad numbers after a Covid outbreak.

But there is now a real possibility that an even better outcome could be on the cards for Tranmere.

This afternoon, journalist Peter O'Rourke Tweeted: "Hearing Sunderland winger Josh Hawkes has agreed to re-sign for Tranmere Rovers on a permanent deal."

Keep following the Globe for any further official developments from Prenton Park.