Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has invited former Watford defender Tommie Hoban up for training.
Hoban, who is a free agent, is back in training after recovering from a knee ligament injury which cut short his loan at Pittodrie last season and McInnes is aiming to bolster his defence following Scott McKenna’s hamstring tear.
McInnes, whose side take on Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the league tonight, said: “You have to say we are a bit short at the back as Greg Leigh won’t be back until after the international break and we have four games before that.
“I spoke with Tommie again this week on the back of Scott’s news to see if there has been a change in his circumstances.
“We are hoping he can come up and train with us for a few days and we’ll know about that soon.
“I think it’s something that’s possible if it suits all parties and if he gets in training with us we can have a chat about things.”
McInnes has urged McKenna not to give up on his dream of playing for Scotland in the European championships this summer.
The Dons defender faces three to four months on the sidelines after suffering a serious hamstring tear against St Mirren in Saturday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final win in Paisley.
Should Scotland qualify for the finals via the Nations League play-offs, which will be concluded at the end of this month, McKenna would face a race to prove his fitness for the championships, which begin on June 12.
McInnes, however, has urged his player not to give up hope.
He said: “If he can still be part of a Euro campaign although his biggest challenge would be trying to play games before that.
“He could maybe make the Euros in terms of the dates but he has a lot to do before then before we can say anything with any certainty.
“I spoke to Steve Clarke yesterday to give him the news. I am sure he will speak to Scott over the next couple of days.”
McKenna is crestfallen. He will miss the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic and the final on May 9 should the Dons get there.
McInnes said: “It is a hard one.
“I phoned him when I got the results and it is difficult to find the right words to tell him because I know how much he puts into his football.
“His football is everything to him and is his focus.”