Preston North End are considering a move for ex-Charlton midfielder Greg Docherty.
The 30-year-old has been without a club since leaving The Valley at the end of last season and has vast Championship experience, making 129 appearances in the second tier.
Docherty also played three full Championship seasons with Hull after earning promotion from League One with the Tigers in 2020/21.
Now, according to Alan Nixon, he could be set for a return to the division with relegation-threatened Preston.
New boss Graham Alexander has made no secret of his desire to dip his toe into the free agent market in an attempt to fill some gaps in his squad.
Ali McCann, Liam Gibbs and summer signing Harry Clarke have all suffered with injury issues in recent weeks and Preston are now 4/11 favourites to be relegated from the Championship, already cut six points adrift from safety.
The club dismissed Paul Heckingbottom after six defeats in seven matches to start the season.
Docherty would provide an energetic midfield option and was linked with several clubs over the summer, including Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City.
With McCann and Gibbs sidelined, the Lilywhites are short on reinforcements in the centre of the park. Both Alfie Devine and Leo Leroy have been forced to play every league match so far and Jordan Thompson has missed just one.
Preston face-off against Stoke next time out and then welcome Sheffield United and Southampton to Deepdale before the international break.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
