Dundee boss Paul Hartley is to hold talks with former Blackpool striker Craig Sutherland as well as the club’s owners to see whether he can be kept on at Dens.
The 25-year-old has been training with the Dark Blues and impressed the manager in a bounce game against Morton on Monday.
Hartley is looking for striking cover with frontmen Steven Doris and Craig Beattie still working their way back to fitness, and he believes Sutherland fits the bill.
He said: “Craig did OK in the bounce game. He has something different about him and he had a few chances.
“He didn’t take them but I thought he did quite well. He is very quick and has an eye for goal.
“We will have a chat with him and see if we can do something. I will also need to speak to the owners but it will depend on finances.
“I think he would offer something different because we have a lot of games coming up and Doris and Beattie are still a bit behind in terms of match sharpness.”
Doris played in the bounce game alongside another player working his way back to full sharpness, Nicky Riley.
Hartley also revealed that with Ryan Conroy returning to training, his squad is looking strong for what he hopes is their title push.
He said: “Conroy is back training and he will be in the squad for the weekend. He didn’t play in the bounce match as he has had enough game time this season.
“Nicky played a part in it so it is good to have most of the boys coming back. We are really pleased with that as it is obviously better to have a strong squad at this stage of the season.
“It is good to have options.”
With Dundee not having a game last weekend, Hartley watched the match between title rivals Falkirk and this Saturday’s opponents, Livingston.
He admitted he was impressed with a Livi team managed by someone he knows well, John McGlynn.
He added: “I know John from when he was first-team coach and interim manager at Hearts. We go back a long way.
“He has them well drilled and organised so it will be a tough game. We have to go there and be as positive as we can.
“Every game will be difficult though between now and the end of the season. We have to make sure we handle the pressure and cope with it.”