Christie has not had a club since Middlesbrough released him in 2007

Leeds boss Gary McAllister is trying to agree a deal with former Middlesbrough striker Malcolm Christie in time for Saturday's visit of Hartlepool.

The 29-year-old, whose last game was in April 2007, played 70 minutes of Leeds' 5-2 win at Northampton in Monday's FA Cup first-round replay.

"He brings us that wee bit of guile and experience," McAllister told BBC Leeds.

"I've got four mainline strikers at my disposal and it just strengthens and bolsters the squad up even more."

McAllister said: "We've now got four mainline strikers at my disposal and it was very comforting with 20 minutes to go to be able to take Malcolm and Jermaine [Beckford] off and replace them with Luciano [Becchio] and Big Enoch [Showunmi].

When asked whether he hoped to sign Christie in time for Saturday's visit of Hartlepool to League One, McAllister would only comment: "That's the plan."

McAllister also said that he never doubted that striker Jermaine Beckford would end his goal drought.

I always feel pretty confident he'll get on the score-sheet Gary McAllister on Jermaine Beckford

Leeds' top scorer had gone seven games without a goal, but scored a hat-trick as Leeds booked their place in the second round of the FA Cup and a trip to Histon.

"All strikers go through it and it's a good test for him because he's still pretty green and it's probably the first time - certainly since I've come here - with such a lengthy barren spell.

"He's a confident boy - when we get the chances and put them in front of him I always feel pretty confident he'll get on the score-sheet.

"I thought the three finishes were excellent - three different types of finishes again.

"I'm thinking back to an earlier round of the Carling Cup at Chester when his hat-trick was exquisite, and again tonight the three goals were good goals."

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