Ross County manager Owen Coyle’s attacking reshuffle is gathering pace after he added Woking forward Inih Effiong – and he could make a shock move to sign Liverpool striker David N’Gog.
Effiong’s arrival on an 18-month contract from the National League Cardinals comes after Danish attacker Thomas Mikkelsen was allowed to join Championship side Dundee United on loan until the end of the season.
Coyle’s work is not finished however, with discussions to take place over a move for French attacker N’Gog, who has trained at Victoria Park this week.
N’Gog is well-known to Coyle, who signed him for Bolton Wanderers from Liverpool for £4 million in 2011, after he had netted nine goals in 63 appearances for the Reds.
Since leaving the Trotters in 2014, N’Gog has played for Swansea, Reims and Panionios, and is currently a free agent after leaving the Greek outfit last year.
Although the 28-year-old is short of match fitness, the capture of N’Gog, who began his career with PSG and won 17 France under-21 caps, would be a major coup for the Staggies.
In the meantime, Effiong could feature in County’s Scottish Cup fourth round tie at Kilmarnock today after completing his move to the Highlands.
The 26-year-old caught the eye of Coyle with his performances for Woking, having netted 10 goals in 32 appearances so far this season, most notably netting in a man-of-the-match performance in a shock 3-0 victory over League One side Bury in the FA Cup in November.
Coyle hopes 6ft 3in forward Effiong, who only joined Woking from Barrow in the summer, can add physicality to his front-line, and he said: “I’m delighted to bring Inih to the club. He is a tall, powerful frontman and differs from the other strikers we have at the club so I think he will fit in well. Inih is relishing the step up from the Vanarama National League to the Scottish Premiership and can’t wait to get started.”
The departure of Mikkelsen will come as little surprise, with the forward having struggled to break into Coyle’s side, having been signed by previous manager Jim McIntyre in the summer from Danish outfit OB.
The move to United marks a return to Tannadice for Mikkelsen, who spent the second half of last season with the club.
County return to action against Killie at Rugby Park today following the winter break, and despite the Staggies being three points adrift at the foot of the Premiership, Coyle is relishing the prospect of a cup run.
He added: “I’ve always loved cup competitions – as a player, coach and manager. It’s a great challenge, Kilmarnock have scooped the player and manager of the month awards. That shows how well they’ve done in December.
“We’ve already played Kilmarnock twice in my time. We went down there and won, and played very well, and we should have won here as well.”