Dundee kid Kerr Waddell was watched by English Premier League giants Arsenal during the summer.
And the 20-year-old’s progress continues to be monitored by a string of clubs from south of the border.
Wednesday saw Waddell extend his loan at Championship outfit Morton until the end of the season, a move that will free him up to play in the Scottish Cup as well as league matches.
Waddell made his temporary switch to Greenock, at first on a six-month deal, in early July but initially it had been pencilled in for a few weeks earlier so he could join the Ton at the start of their pre-season training programme.
The loan was delayed, however, and he played in the Dark Blues opening build up game at Brechin City at the end of June, when he was watched by Gunners scouts.
That was with a view to adding him to their U/23 squad and although the spying mission did not lead to an offer being tabled, Arsenal and others down south have been keeping tabs on his progress at Morton.
New Dundee boss Jim McIntyre has also had reports on him but with good options available in defence, he’s decided the player’s development will be best served by remaining at Morton until the end of the season.
Waddell broke into the first team at Dens early last season and got the goals that earned a vital win over Hearts a year past September.
Injury and the arrival of experienced central defensive pair Genseric Kusunga and Steven Caulker in the early weeks of this year, saw his appearances in the second half of the campaign dry up.
At Morton he’s made 13 appearances so far this term.
The Dens gaffer has said he’s keeping an eye on all his players out on loan to see what they might add to the first-team should they be recalled in January.
He said: “We send people to go and watch them so we are getting proper feedback.
“Ideally, going forward I would like a position created for the loan players, somebody who keeps an eye on them so we are getting reports on each game.
“The possibility is there for bringing them back but they need to be doing well where they are.”
n Glen Kamara played 90 minutes for Finland last night in their 1-0 Nations League loss in Greece.
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