Scotland international James McFadden is poised to agree a short-term contract with English Premier League side Sunderland.
The deal will give the forward an opportunity to build match fitness and impress Black Cats manager Martin O'Neill in the hope of winning a full contract.
The player and club have agreed a deal in principle which would see McFadden contracted until January after he came through a successful trial spell. He had previously been training with former club Motherwell.
"Over the last week or so, I have been in contact with his agent," O'Neill told the Sunderland Echo.
"We have in principle agreed something which would suit us all. That would be a contract for a couple of months.
"I still feel James is a bit short of what I would consider real proper fitness.
"And I'm delighted to say, he's not one of those lads who would not want to hang around if he couldn't make progress.
"It's an arrangement that we still need to verify, but it might suit us all. It provides an incentive for James to get into the side over the next couple of months."
Related articles
People who read this story also read
- Why Scotland's problems are belief and attitude not a lack of talent
- SPL Trivia: Current SPL players to have scored in a World Cup qualifier
- Andy Webster calls for continuity amid questions over Craig Levein's future
- Motherwell to open talks with James McFadden over a short-term deal
- SPL Trivia: Sole representatives of their nation in the current SPL
