EXPERIENCED defender Phil Baker has been loaned to Aberystwyth Town by Dafabet Welsh Premier League frontrunners The New Saints.

The eight-time Welsh Premier League Champion will join Matthew Bishop’s side until the end of the season.

Centre back Baker, 34, has been an integral part of the Saints’ squad for over a decade, and has been twice named in the Welsh Premier Dream Team.

Last year he was awarded the Dafabet Welsh Premier League Clubman Of The Year, but Saints boss Craig Harrison said he was happy to release the player on loan until the end of the season.

"Pip’s at the stage of his career where he wants to be playing regular football," said Harrison. "He’s 34-years old and he’s far too good to be a third-choice centre-back, as he is at present, so we’re giving him the chance to go and get some games.

"He’s a top-drawer player, he’s got a wealth of experience. He’s going there a month to get some games in and then when he comes back, if called upon, he will be in a better position to play.

"He did a fantastic job for us recently at St. Mirren, playing out of position, and not long back from injury himself."

Baker made his Welsh Premier debut for Bangor City in 2003, joining the Farrar Road club from Tranmere Rovers, but left after a short time to join Football League outfit Exeter City.

Baker returned to the Welsh Premier with Aberystwyth in 2003/4 and made 32 Welsh Premuer appearances for the Seasiders side which finished fourth and represented Wales in the UEFA Inter Toto Cup tie against Dinaburg Daugavpiils of Latvia.

After a brief spell with Unibond League Droylsden, he rejoined Bangor City in September 2004, where he made 28 league appearances in 2004/5.

He joined The New Saints, where he has established himself as one of the Welsh Premier’s most successful defenders of all time, with 340 league starts.

After appearing against APOEL Nicosia in the UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying round last summer, Baker moved to the top of the all-time list of Welsh Premier League players who have appeared for their clubs in European competitions.

He has appeared in a record 31 games in Europe, including matches against Liverpool, RSC Anderlecht, CSKA Sofia and Legia Warsaw.