Thursday, March 28, 2024
SportEnglish footballDerek Riordan set for return to football after impressing Jackie McNamara

Derek Riordan set for return to football after impressing Jackie McNamara

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.

(Pic: footballwizardry)
Former Dundee United boss McNamara has been impressed by Riordan (Pic: footballwizardry)

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.”

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