The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Johnston takes a look at former Tannadice striker
dunfermline: El Alagui on trial with Pars as ICT end interest
Former Hibernian and Falkirk striker Farid El Alagui has gone on trial at Dunfermline after failing to win a move to Inverness Caley Thistle.
The 30-year-old, who also played 15 times on loan at Dundee United in 2014, is a free agent after leaving Hibs in the summer following two injury-ravaged years at Easter Road.
The France-born Moroccan netted seven times in 21 appearances for the capital club but spent seven months out in his first season after rupturing his achilles tendon and then longer on the sidelines last term when it was decided he should have screws removed from his ankle.
A minor knee operation and a hamstring problem also plagued his final year with Hibs and it came as little surprise that he was freed in the wake of the Scottish Cup final triumph in May.
El Alagui spent time on trial with Inverness in a bid to win a deal with the Premiership strugglers but manager Richie Foran has indicated a lack of match-readiness meant he would have to look elsewhere for fresh faces.
That has opened the door for Dunfermline to weigh up a move as they continue to seek a replacement for last season’s top scorer Faissal El Bakhtaoui, who recently joined Dundee.
El Alagui said: “I’ve started training with Dunfermline and we’ll see how things go, how we both feel and react, and if everything goes well then we’ll discuss things further.
“I had a few games with Inverness and did some pre-season training before that with Hibs, so my body is reacting OK and I just need to get some match fitness and sharpness back.
“I like what I’ve seen so far and I am feeling good.”