BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
Jackie McNamara is set to offer Derek Riordan a career lifeline with York City after a successful trial period.
The former Celtic and Scotland striker has been training with the Minstermen – currently bottom of League Two in England – since the beginning of last week.
Despite seeing a planned bounce game called off due to adverse weather, Riordan has done enough to convince McNamara that he is the man to fire York out of the drop-zone.
The 32-year-old’s was most recently on the books at East Fife, scoring two goals in nine appearances and helping the Methil men claim a playoff berth in Scotland’s bottom tier last term.
However, he has been training with former club Hibernian for a large portion of this season in order to remain fit.
And McNamara confirmed: “Derek has been training with us and we are looking at that just now.
“He gives us a few goals and we will see what can be done between now and the end of the season, see if there is something there – if he’s happy and we are happy.
“He has shown his finishing qualities. If he can get a little bit sharper then he could be a quality player for us.”
Riordan boasts three Scotland caps and has also turned out for St Johnstone, Bristol City and Shaanxi Chan-Ba in China – however he has courted controversy during his career.
Nevertheless, McNamara believes the experienced forward is “hungry” to make an impact.
He told The Press: “He has got kids now. I can see that bit of hunger in him and can he try and finish his career in the right way and help York first and foremost.”
