Trialist Airdrie United winger Gary McKay-Stevens will train with Dundee United for another two weeks, at the end of which time Tannadice boss Peter Houston will decide whether to offer the youngster a contract.
The 20-year-old has already spent a few days with United at their St Andrews training base and Houston has also watched him in action for the Diamonds.
Jimmy Boyle has tipped him to make the step up to the SPL and Houston hopes the former Ross County and Liverpool player can prove the Airdrie manager right.
He said, “Gary is doing well. We’re having a look at him because he has a decent pedigree. We have watched him play for Airdrie a few times.
“I went to see him and that day he was a bit quiet, but the other coaching staff have watched him in other games and he’s done really well.
“We will keep him with us for another couple of weeks and then make a decision after that. He’s a winger and has a lot to learn.
“We don’t play with out-and-out wingers it’s more midfielders so he would have to learn to play the way we like to.
“He’s one of those ones who wouldn’t be coming to go straight into the first team, but we can see potential there.
“We have had success from watching the lower leagues before. The likes of Barry Douglas and Morgaro Gomis have come to us and been a success, so it proves there are players out there.”Bargain huntingWith clubs throughout Scotland set to slash their budgets this summer most managers will be looking down the leagues for any bargains.
Houston, who has already admitted he will need to trim the wage bill, will be scouring the SFL.
He added, “There are not that many in the lower leagues, but there are some and you always try to see them. We are not the only club who will be doing it.
“Clubs all over the country will be cutting back and we’re no different, so if we can identify players with potential in the lower leagues then of course we would be interested.”
One player Houston hopes to retain is David Robertson, whose contract expires in the summer.
St Johnstone are also keen on the goalscoring midfielder, but Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson will meet the player’s agent next week to discuss extending his stay at United.
Houston said, “The chairman is going to sit down with David Robertson’s agent next week. I want to keep him here, but I know he has offers from other clubs.
“So we’ll talk about it and it will be up to David to decide what he’s going to do.”