Livingston striker Gavin Reilly is set to exit the club on loan - with Lions boss David Martindale close to bringing in another striker on board.
Reilly signed in the January transfer window last season but suffered a hamstring tear in early March that ruled him out for the remainder of the season.
The Lions have since signed Bruce Anderson while Jack Hamilton returned to the club following a successful loan stint at Arbroath with Reilly limited to four substitute appearances this term.
Speaking to the Courier, Martindale admitted the 28-year-old needs more minutes under his belt and is hopeful that he can return up to speed in January.
He commented: “I think I need to bring in another striker. I’m actively chasing up a couple of options who have been on the radar for the last six months or so. Bruce and Jack have been brilliant for me but we’re going to explore letting Gavin go out on loan.
“I need Gavin Reilly being fit and available for me in January. He’s probably 20 games behind and I can’t guarantee that I can get him that game time he needs.
“I spoke to him after the game on Sunday and I’m looking to bring in another striker who’s probably a wee bit different to what I’ve got just now.”
He added: “Gavin’s struggled with injuries over the last two or three years. He left Scotland as a top class striker but he went down to England and his career stuttered slightly.
“He came in and hit the ground running for us. He was brilliant in his debut against Celtic and I was really looking forward to what he could bring to the team but he picked up the injury and it set him back.
“It was a 20cm tear in the hamstring, so it was a really severe tear and it took time for him to recover.
“I think it’s just unrealistic of me to ask him to hit the heights I need from him at this stage when he’s not got the game time and still coming back from that hamstring injury.
“I think it’s beneficial to him to try and get him out on loan and that then allows me to look at the market.
“Ideally we want him playing in the Premier League but we also have to be realistic and do what’s best for him. He’s a proven goalscorer in the Championship and he needs as much game time as possible so it might make more sense for us to explore that level for him.”
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