Free agent Riordan on trial with St Johnstone

Published on 23/03/2012 03:42

ST JOHNSTONE have taken former Hibs, Celtic and Scotland striker Derek Riordan on trial.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Chinese club Shaanxi Chan-Ba in November, having only joined them in July on a two-year deal.

Riordan failed to settle in the Far East so returned to the UK and has been on trial with Blackpool and Kilmarnock in recent weeks.

Saints manager Steve Lomas could lose star player Fran Sandaza as well as on-loan Cillian Sheridan in the summer so is making plans for next season – although he admits Riordan could play for Saints this term.

He said: “We have had Derek Riordan in to play a bounce game for us and he did very well.

“We’re looking around to see what’s out there, Derek is a quality player there’s no doubt about that. He is here so we can have a look at him and he can have a look at us to see what he wants to do.

“He’d have to be happy here as well. We’ll see how things go and have a chat about it.

“I have to keep an eye on next season, that’s what I have been doing.

“But he could even play for us this season, we’ll have to see about that.

“It might be a great one to throw in between now and the end of the season.

“With all the people we have going out of contract I have to look at the options and at signing replacements.

“When a quality player like Derek comes up you have to take a look.

“He is a free agent and it depends how hungry he is to get back playing regularly.”