James McFadden training with Queen of the South

Queen of the South manager Gary Naysmith has brought in former Scotland forward James McFadden, pictured, to join pre-season training and has not ruled out a move for his former Everton team-mate.

James McFadden, right, has left his position as player/assistant manager at Motherwell. Picture: Alan Watson

Naysmith, who has also bolstered his numbers by including experienced defender 
Brian McLean in training, said: “I have known James since our Everton days and he was at a loose end after leaving his position as assistant manager at Motherwell. He asked if he could come in and work with us and when a player of that quality wants to work with you the only answer is yes.

“He has been full of tricks and flicks in training and I know that he can still do a job on the pitch. Everyone thinks he is in his late thirties because he has been on the scene that long but he is only 34. I played until I was 38 and James can return to playing as well.

“It would be fantastic if he said he would like to play for us, even in some pre-season games as the players would learn so much from him.”