St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has only got five days left to make his mind up whether to recall Aaron Essel from his American loan.
The versatile Ghana player, who earned his first full cap last month, joined North Texas in March to get regular first team football.
Saints have the option of cutting the loan deal short.
But if they are planning to bring the 19-year-old back to Scotland this summer, Monday is the deadline.
And Valakari admitted that he’s yet to come to a decision.
“We have until the end of June to decide what we will do with him,” said the Finn.
“After a difficult start, Aaron has been playing games in America.
“It will probably be a late decision, what we will do.”
The departure of Daniels Balodis last week has created a need for two centre-halves to be added to the Saints squad.
Valakari always thought keeping the Latvian international at McDiarmid Park for a season of second tier football was a long shot.
“It was pretty much expected that Daniels would go,” he said.
“He played a lot of games for us and showed the level he is capable of.
“To continue his international career, he wants to play as high as possible.
“I knew there would be interest in him, especially when he was free to move.
“That’s why it was not a surprise that he has left.
“Of course, I would have liked to keep him here but that’s football.”
At the other end of the pitch, strikers Uche Ikpeazu and Adama Sidibeh are expected to return to training on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
“Uche missed a couple of days for personal reasons,” said Valakari.
“He has been training on his own and will be back with us this week.
“I have been in contact with Adama after his international games.
“He is getting five extra days off and will be training with us on Saturday.”
Work to do
Valakari is only halfway through his summer rebuild.
However, it is a case of so far so good.
“There are a lot of things we still need to do with our squad,” he said.
“We will keep trying to strengthen in many areas.
“But I’m very happy with the players we have brought in – I have seen their qualities in training.
“I feel that our squad is already more balanced than it was last season.
“We have players for every position.
“Last year we ended up with a lot of switching of players and positions.
“What the future holds and where we will look to get players from, we will see.”
Trinidad and Tobago international Andre Raymond will return next week, with Victor Griffith still at the Gold Cup with Panama, who topped their group after beating Jamaica.
The Saints midfielder was in the starting line-up on Tuesday night and now has a weekend quarter-final against Honduras to look forward to.
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