DUNFERMLINE boss James McPake has confirmed he is interested in former Dundee forward Alex Jakubiak - and has revealed David Wotherspoon is still training with the club.

Following Saturday's Fife derby defeat at home to Raith Rovers, it was reported that 26-year-old Jakubiak was a target for the Pars after he was spotted taking in the match at KDM Group East End Park.

The former Watford youngster, who has also had loan spells with Falkirk, St Mirren and Partick Thistle during his career, was signed for the Dens Park club in 2020, whilst McPake was their manager.

He spent three years with the Dark Blues but, despite scoring in the dramatic final day win over Queen's Park, which gave the Taysiders the Championship title at the expense of their opponents, he left the club in the summer.

Jakubiak is a free agent and, earlier this week, McPake wouldn't be drawn on speculation that he was interested in a move for the player when he spoke to Press Sport ahead of our print deadline for today's (Thursday's) edition.

However, in a sit down with the media before Saturday's Championship trip to Inverness earlier today, McPake confirmed the forward has been training with the club, but emphasised a deal is not yet imminent.

"I signed Jakubiak for Dundee. He'd never really had an injury in his career, and then he picked up just the strangest of injuries," the Athletic boss explained.

"We never got him back in time really to have a big impact, and I think he would have in the Premiership for us. He finished last season brilliantly for Dundee. I was surprised that they let him go if I’m hones,t but that's not my decision. People go in there and make up their own minds.

"He's in training and he's looking good. We don’t just open the door to everybody to come in and train. The ones that come in, we've done a lot of background on, or it’s like Jak - we know what type of character he is, because we are really conscious not to disrupt this group in any way, if we can help it. To cut a long story short, he is a player I really do admire."

Although the transfer window closes tomorrow (Friday) at midnight, clubs outwith the Premiership in Scotland can still bring in loan players until the end of September, provided they are from a higher level.

They are also able to sign players who are unattached such as Jakubiak and, when it was put to him that such signings don't need to be rushed, McPake responded: " Yeah, although there are certain ones who have decisions to make as well.

"With Alex, with David Wotherspoon, people like that - they've got offers. They've got other opportunities, they've got chances of going elsewhere, so it's that fine balancing act, how long do you wait?

"Alex has been in this week, he is looking fit, he's looking good. If it's something that we both decide can be done then I would have no hesitation in doing Alex quickly but we are a bit away from that at the minute.

"He's shown what I knew he would show in terms of his attitude and his quality, so we'll just see what develops over the next couple of days with Alex."

When asked if Wotherspoon was still a possibility, and if he was still training with the club, McPake added: "Yes. He's still here."

The manager also confirmed that Kane Ritchie-Hosler should be in the squad for Saturday's match, while Matty Todd will have the rest of this week in his boot, before they "kick him on" and "hopefully we'll see him back shortly".

McPake also said that Deniz Mehmet is "doing a lot more" in his recovery from an ankle injury, and could be back within a couple of weeks.