Gregory Vignal is struggling to persuade Dundee United to offer him a permanent contract after suffering another major injury blow.
Vignal joined the Tangerines in September on a deal that takes him up until January 5 and which includes an option to extend it if both parties agree.
However, the former Rangers and Liverpool defender has toiled with his fitness and has yet to make a first-team appearance for United.
The latest setback for the player is a hamstring injury, picked up half-an-hour into Wednesday night’s under-20 match against Hamilton Accies.
Vignal (31) will be sidelined at least for another couple of weeks, making it more difficult for manager Peter Houston to keep him on beyond the current deal.
Houston said: ”Gregory suffered a hamstring injury in the under-20 game against Hamilton and that sets him back with regards to trying to get a new contract.
”We will see how it goes and he has been trying hard, but it’s now difficult for me to extend his contract. It is unfortunate.
”We are assessing the injury just now and that could take up to two days to discover how long he is going to be out for.
”He will be working with the physio for the next couple of weeks.”
On a more positive note as regards injured players, Gary Mackay-Steven is edging closer to a comeback.
The winger has been sidelined since the end of August after undergoing a knee operation but Houston is more than happy with the progress he has been making.
”Gary is going to train with the squad next week so that is a huge bonus,” said Houston. ”He has been training very hard and has been doing a strong and vigorous rehabilitation programme.
”He has come through it all really well. I think it will be sooner rather than later when we get Gary back out on to the park in some sort of action.”
The Tangerines travel to Paisley to face St Mirren on Saturday looking to carry the momentum gathered in the 1-1 draw with Aberdeen into that fixture.
The Buddies will be aiming to banish the memory of their home hammering at the hands of Celtic last time out.
Houston added: ”I watched the Aberdeen game again when we had a lot of good opportunities. There are one or two things that we have been working on, like the manner in which we lost the goal from the corner.
”I will go through how we should be defending a corner with the players just to freshen up their minds again.
”Overall, I have been delighted with the effort and the attitude of the players. We played exceptionally well at times against Aberdeen and made their keeper produce some decent saves.
”So it’s a platform on which to build, with regards to getting back to being the real Dundee United. Now we just have to do all those things a wee bit better come the St Mirren match.
”Last season we had three draws with them. In each of those matches either team could have won, so it may be close again.
”We just have to make sure we are compact and tight at the back not go kamikaze and hopefully take our chances at the other end.”