Dundee have taken former Scotland striker Craig Beattie on trial.
The 29-year-old, who has played for a host of clubs including Celtic, Hearts and St Johnstone, trained with the Dark Blues.
If he impresses this week he could be a Dundee player in time for this Saturday’s crunch Championship game against league leaders Hamilton. They strengthened their squad yesterday by signing Spanish defender Jesus Garcia Tena.
Beattie has been without a club since being released by Barnet at the end of last season. He had joined the English side after an unsuccessful spell at St Johnstone where he made just four appearances under then-Saints boss Steve Lomas.
He is now looking to kick-start his career once again at Dens Park.
Dundee assistant boss Ray Farningham said: “We are having a look at Craig who is an experienced player and has performed at the highest level.
“Hopefully he will show up well and we will take it from there.”
If Beattie is awarded a deal, Dundee will hope he can be the solution to a problem that has dogged them so far this season failing to convert the chances they are creating.
Saturday’s desperately disappointing Ramsdens Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Stenhousemuir was a case in point with the Dark Blues squandering a host of opportunities.
Farningham said: “I know it is still early in the season but we have had a problem where we have created a lot of chances but aren’t taking them.
“It has cost us. Even against Forfar in the cup, we created a lot but we still had to go to extra-time. So it has been a problem.”
One of Dundee’s current striking options, Carlo Monti, is unlikely to be available for the Hamilton game after taking a blow to the head just six minutes into the Stenny match.
He was replaced by Nicky Riley, who has only just returned from injury himself, and Farningham said the winger did well to last as long as he did before being replaced in the seventh minute of extra-time.
The assistant boss said: “Carlo is a big doubt for Saturday as he was concussed against Stenhousemuir. He was still groggy after the game.
“Nicky came off but that was because he hasn’t had much game time recently and we didn’t expect him to have to go on so soon. He was a bit tight this morning so didn’t train as a precaution.”
Saturday’s defeat against the League One part-timers was a big blow to the Dark Blues but Farningham and manager John Brown insisted at a meeting with the players yesterday morning that it is a result they cannot afford to dwell on with Hamilton looming large on the horizon.
He said: “We have spoken to the boys and told them they just have to put it behind them now. We have a massive game coming up on Saturday against Hamilton.
“We have to look towards that. They are at the top of the league so it is up to us to put one over them.”