Former loan strikers in League One trials

Last updated : 17 July 2009 By Tony Scholes
Paul McVeigh
Paul McVeigh - on trial with former club Norwich
The first of them is Michael Ricketts, a player who doesn't seem to be able to find a club long term for love nor money. He was a Jimmy Mullen signing for Walsall last summer but he's been moved on again and has found himself trying to win a contract with Brighton, the club he played against on his Burnley debut.

Seagulls boss Russell Slade said of him: "He had a stabilising season at Walsall last year, and he still looks to have the appetite as a footballer. Sometimes when you move for big money it can affect your career, and maybe his career didn't go in the direction he would have wanted. But he's obviously still in love with the game and he still feels he has a lot to offer."

Ricketts will feature in their pre-season games against Havant & Waterlooville and Worthing as he looks to earn himself a deal.

Slade's former club Yeovil have Dean Bowditch with them following his release from Ipswich. He's played for a number of clubs on loan over recent years, including a spell at Burnley towards the end of the 2004/05 season.

Yeovil are taking part in the Errea South West Challenge Cup this week and Bowditch has been involved.

Finally Paul McVeigh was let go by Luton as they said their farewells to the Football League and he's gone back to Norwich the club he left two years ago. He'd just ended a successful loan spell with the Clarets and there were suggestions he could be signed on a permanent basis, that was until Robbie Blake returned from League One Leeds.

He's been invited back to Carrow Road by manager Bryan Gunn and is currently on tour in Scotland with them after playing in early games against Fakenham and Dartford. They've recorded wins against both Raith Rovers and St. Johnstone whilst in Scotland with McVeigh scoring the only goal of the game in the win over Raith.

Prior to the trip north of the border, McVeigh said: "I don't know what the club's thinking, but from my point of view obviously I'm going to try and do everything I can to get a contract.

"I went to Luton and had some ups and downs, but I've been here training for a couple of weeks and had good games. I want to try and impress, I want a contract and would love to come back.

"It would be brilliant if it happened but by no means is it close. The manager is still trying to bring in a lot of players, I'm realistic and I know exactly what the situation is. I'm going to try my best to get a contract, but whether that's good enough is another matter."