Ghanaian midfielder Prince Buaben has impressed coaches as he is undergoing a trial with Scottish Championship side Hearts as a free agent.
Hearts coach Robbie Neilson is intrigued by the prospect of reuniting former Dundee United colleagues Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben in the Hearts engine room.
Gomis became the Tynecastle club’s first post-administration signing last month and has shone in both of his friendly outings so far.
There is now a good chance of his friend and former Tannadice team-mate following him to Edinburgh after Buaben joined Hearts at their pre-season training camp near Chester on Saturday and then played as a trialist in the second half of their 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest yesterday.
The 26-year-old Ghanaian, who has played for Watford, Carlisle and Partick Thistle since his successful four-year spell at Tannadice ended in 2011, will arrive at Riccarton this week to continue his trial with a view to earning a deal at Hearts.
While he is keen to get another look at Buaben, Neilson admits the formidable partnership he struck up with Gomis in a United side that won the 2010 Scottish Cup increases the trialist’s allure.
“The fact Prince and Gomis had a good partnership at Dundee United certainly comes into our thinking,†he told the Evening News.
“Partnerships are a big thing. You want players to build partnerships with the guys that are playing beside them, but they wouldn’t need that building process because they already know each other’s game.
“I’ve spoken to Prince about coming up for a bit more training with us because he’s only done two days’ pre-season with us. He will come up and we’ll see him in training and then maybe see him in another game and make a decision on him.â€
The Akosombo-born player, who was raised in Holland, was in action during Hearts' friendly win over Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest on Sunday.
Buaben, who was released by as Partick Thistle, was in action as Hearts beat the Romanians 2-1 in Leigh on Sunday.
Hearts won through early goals from Gary Oliver and Sam Nicholson for the Scottish Championship side.
Hearts included former Dundee United midfielder Prince Buaben and ex-Berwick midfielder Lee Currie in their squad as trialists against the Romanians.
Dinamo Bucharest finished the game with 10 men after having a player sent off during the first half.