Dundee boss Paul Hartley has revealed he is running the rule over former Blackpool player Craig Sutherland.
The 25-year-old Scottish-born striker was snapped up by then Seasiders boss Ian Holloway in 2011 after a spell playing college soccer in the States.
However, he suffered a serious knee injury during a training match in July 2012 and he eventually left Bloomfield Road last summer and had a trial spell with Rangers.
Now Hartley has offered Sutherland training facilities and is trying to organise a bounce game to see him in action.
The manager said: “Craig has been in training with us for the last few days.
“I saw him a couple of years ago when he scored two goals playing as a trialist for Dumbarton in a pre-season game against Alloa.
“He then went down to Blackpool and Ian Holloway signed him. He is a free agent and we are just having a look at him. He is getting sharper and can score a goal.
“We are hoping to give him a run-out on Thursday in a bounce game.”
Hartley has made no secret of the fact he wants to bolster his attacking options with frontmen Steven Doris and Craig Beattie still making their way back from injury.
However, he revealed both are making good progress and could have an important part to play in what he hopes will be a title run-in.
Hartley said: “Doris has been working hard while Beattie did the warm-up and the running stuff today, so that was pleasing.
“It was good to see him back in with the rest of the lads. If he doesn’t have any reaction to his injury, then I can see him playing a part before the end of the season.
“Hopefully, the two of them could have a bit of an impact.”
Meanwhile, Hartley has called on his players to show a ruthless streak in games.
Dundee dominated Saturday’s match against Morton, but had to wait until the 86th minute before Peter MacDonald scored their second goal to settle any nerves within Dens.
Now the manager is demanding that his players kill teams off earlier.
Hartley said: “It’s one thing we’d like to do. We had plenty of opportunities against Morton, but it was still very close until the final few minutes.
“Morton had a chance just before we got our second goal, which could have changed the complexion of the game. That’s something we’re working on because we know how important it is to take your chances.
“Every successful team has the ability to finish teams off and that’s what we’re striving to do. To get three clean sheets in the games we’ve been in charge is a good platform.
“If we can keep that going and be ruthless at the other end it would make for a good combination.”