Julien Faubert joins Kilmarnock until end of the season

Former West Ham defender Julien Faubert has joined Kilmarnock on a short-term deal.

Faubert had been on trial at Rugby Park since the beginning of the week, having spent time training with Premiership rivals St Johnstone the last week.

The 32-year old, who started his career with Cannes before moving to Bordeaux in 2004, was strongly linked with a move to Rangers in the summer of 2007 before eventually joining West Ham for £6.1m.

Faubert made more than 100 Premier League appearances for the Londoners over a five-year spell. He also spent the second half of the 2008-09 season on loan at La Liga giants Real Madrid.

He has been without a club since his second spell at Bordeaux came to an end last summer and becomes Lee Clark's first signing since taking over as Kilmarnock manager earlier this month.

"Lee has taken a risk on me and when you feel like that as a player then you can break your neck for him on the pitch," said former France international Faubert.

You could feel that buzz in the dressing room. Players will be able to learn from him.

"You will fight for him because he has taken a risk on you. I want to play football, I'm hungry to play competitive football and that's why I came here. It's a good opportunity for me to come back to British football."

Faubert could make his debut in Kilmarnock's Premiership clash with Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday and Clark is confident he will give the team a timely lift as they seek to preserve their top-flight status.

"There was a lift when the boys saw him on Monday," said the former Fulham and Birmingham boss. "You could feel that buzz in the dressing room. Players will be able to learn from him as well."