PARTICK Thistle manager Murdo MacLeod is confident he will sign Celtic's Mark McNally, despite the fact that the player is in Southend, where he is being considered for a possible move to the English first division club. MacLeod spoke to McNally before he went south and is very hopeful that he will be able to persuade the defender to travel the short route to Firhill rather than the 500-mile journey to Essex.
``I expect to speak to Mark when he returns before the weekend,'' said MacLeod, ``and I was aware that he was going to Southend for talks. You can never be sure of anything, but I believe we still have a good chance of bringing him here.''
The word from the south is that Southend are eager to pip the Scottish club for the Under-21 internationalist's services. Their manager, Ronnie Whelan, admitted that Celtic had not been prepared to let McNally join them on a month's trial, but agreed to let him go down this week.
McNally has been signing month-to-month contracts since the start of the season. Parkhead manager Tommy Burns sold winger Paul Byrne to Southend for #60,000 earlier in the season.
Meanwhle, Hibs are facing up to yet another injury crisis as they prepare to meet Motherwell, themselves in the midst of injury chaos, at Fir Park on Saturday.
Manager Alex Miller is close to being able to name a full side of those queuing up for treatment in the casualty department. The list includes nine first-team contenders and covers every area of the team bar goalkeeper, where the ageless Jim Leighton stands firm.
Motherwell have a host of first-team men to check out as well, among them Dougie Arnott, Shaun McSkimming, and Jamie Dolan.
Falkirk might still be able to persuade Aberdeen's Paul Kane to make a move to Brockville after the former Hibs man's earlier decision to stay put at Pittodrie. The clubs had agreed a fee but, although Kane turned down the terms offered, it could be that the neogiations will be re-opened.
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