ATHLETIC are running the rule over former Rangers and Scotland under-21 attacker Dapo Mebude as they continue to search for reinforcements.

The 23-year-old has been without a club since leaving Belgian outfit KV Oostende during the summer but has been on trial at KDM Group East End Park.

Boss James McPake signed goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi, from Celtic, and centre back Tommy Fogarty, from Birmingham City on loan, as well as free agent midfielder, Josh Cooper, before the summer transfer window closed at the end of August.

He also failed in a bid to bring Malachi Fagan-Walcott back to the club, following a successful loan spell last term, from Cardiff City, but can still sign players who are unattached and who have not been registered with another club this season.

Dunfermline Press:

The Pars are also able to sign players on loan from Scottish Premiership clubs throughout September and, ahead of tomorrow night's Fife derby with Raith Rovers, McPake confirmed that Mebude has been training with the club.

During his time with Rangers, he twice played against Dunfermline while on loan with Queen of the South, during the 2020/21 season, before going on to sign for Watford.

READ MORE: Pars repeat warning about pyros ahead of Fife derby

Mebude had a temporary stint at AFC Wimbledon, for whom he played 32 times, before moving to Oostende two years ago.

In January this year, he suffered life-threatening injuries in a freak car accident, which saw him cut out of the vehicle and spend five days in a coma.

Mebude required emergency surgery and, in an interview with The Athletic following the incident, said: "Life can be taken away from you at any time and your career is short, so I’m really excited to get back playing and fulfilling the potential I believe I’ve got."

McPake also said that former Motherwell midfielder, Craig Cray, is still training with the club.

The 32-year-old played, and scored, as a trialist for Dunfermline's reserves against Queen's Park last month, after which the Pars boss said he had "done really well".

"He could have played in the reserve game yesterday (on Tuesday against Livingston) but we decided against it," McPake said yesterday (Wednesday).

"He is fit and ready to go. I’m hopeful there’s something that we can do."