Ross County manager Owen Coyle hopes to seal a deadline-day deal for Hibernian defender Liam Fontaine.
Coyle wants to make two more signings before tonight’s transfer deadline and a defender is the priority, with Sean Kelly (groin) and Andrew Davies (calf) sidelined.
Fontaine, 32, has not featured for Hibs since a Betfred League Cup victory over Arbroath in July after suffering an ankle injury which required surgery in September.
The experienced defender, who is out of contract at the end of this season, has now returned to full fitness but has been unable to force his way back into Neil Lennon’s plans, falling behind Darren McGregor, Paul Hanlon and Efe Ambrose on the pecking order.
With highly rated Scotland under-19 international Ryan Porteous also an option in the heart of defence, Lennon is ready to let Fontaine leave Easter Road to free up a wage if he can agree terms with the Staggies.
Coyle is also keen to bolster his midfield options, with Greg Tansey, Chris Eagles and Jamie Lindsay out with injuries and Jim O’Brien struggling through illness.
County need a win against Aberdeen at Dingwall tonight having fallen six points adrift at the foot of the table. But Coyle says he is working overtime in an effort to strengthen his pool.
He said: “Ordinarily, I come in three hours before kick-off. We will prepare as we always do but I think it is fair to say I’ll be in first thing in the morning.
“We thought we had a couple on Monday but it never transpired. Certainly one from England we thought was going through but it never came off.
“I ended up falling asleep on the couch on Monday because I was up to half three in the morning. I woke up with a sore neck.
“We go back and chap those doors again and make those calls. I’d imagine it is going to be busy.
“We’re decimated with injury so we need to get players in fit and available to play their part and help us.
“We only have four fit defenders available for the game so we need to bolster the ranks in there.
“If Jim O’Brien goes down ill, we only have two central midfielders to work with.
“If we can find a couple we will certainly look to bring them in.
“It will help us in terms of numbers but also for one or two in the squad to think they have to up their game if they want to stay in the team.”