BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS head coach Carl Robinson has played down his interest in forgotten man David Templeton after the former Rangers winger joined the MLS outfit on trial.
The 28-year-old has not kicked a ball in 18 months – last playing in a 3-1 with for the Gers over St Mirren in August 2015 – and has been without a club since being released by the Ibrox side last summer.
He turned down an audacious bid from League 2 Edinburgh City earlier this season and has previously trained with Raith Rovers without winning a contract from Gary Locke.
Templeton has now joined up with the Whitecaps for their pre-season camp in Wales and could even be afforded a run-out during upcoming encounters against Oxford United and Bristol City.
However, boss Robinson is adamant Templeton is not on course to follow other SPFL stars Kenny Miller, Barry Robson and Fraser Aird by signing on for a stint in Canada – despite insisting ex-Scotland under-21 starlet remains a formidable talent.
“Temps has come in to have a little bit of rehab with us,” Robinson told the Whitecaps’ official website.
“There is nothing in that except the fact that I know him, and he wanted to come in and see if he could get back up to speed.
“Temps has been out of the game for a very long time, 18 months, so this is us just helping him out a little bit.
“He is a fantastic talent but is still a couple of months away from being where he needs to be. I think he has seen what it is like here, so we can help him in that regard.”
Templeton joined Hearts from Stenhousemuir is 2007 and, following loan stint with Raith, went on to notch 13 goals in 94 appearances for the Jambos.
That convinced Rangers, in League 2 at the time, to shell out around £700,000 on the winger in 2012.
Despite scoring 26 goals for the club, his Ibrox career petered out and he made just three appearances during his final campaign as injuries and a dip in form took their toll.
