Aaron Connolly will complete his East Kilbride Thistle return this week when he signs up for a third spell at the Showpark.
The 30-year-old striker appeared for the club as a trialist on Saturday and scored in Thistle’s 4-2 win away to Ardrossan Winton Rovers.
And now he is looking forward to putting pen to paper on Thursday and signing a deal that could also take him into next season.
Connolly, a former ambassador for mental health charity Back Onside and co-founder of Time to Tackle, has struggled with his mental health in recent years and has spoken candidly about his own personal battles.
Now he hopes to get back playing the game he loves at his hometown club.
The former Ayr United star, who played for the Jags in 2012 and 2016, said: “I’m hopeful I’ll be signing this week.
“I’ve been training with the club the last couple of weeks just trying to get myself back fit and I was involved in the game on Saturday.
“It’s nice to be back and nice to get a goal as well.
“I got a call that EK Thistle needed a bit of a helping hand after a couple of difficult results.
“I went in and trained for a couple of weeks and played on Saturday. I’ve spoken to the club and I’m hoping to sign up for next season as well.
“I’ve had more clubs than Tiger Woods so I’m looking for something settled. I’m 31 in the summer so I think I’ve got a few years left in me.
“I’ve missed the best part of the past two years because of the pandemic and I’ve struggled with my health, so I’m looking for somewhere to settle into it.
“It’s a really young squad, but there’s some great talent in there and hopefully I can be that older head around the club to perhaps give a bit of experience and guidance to younger players. That’s something I’m really keen to do.”
Thistle are playing catch-up in West of Scotland League Conference C and have six games remaining this season.
Jags co-boss Alan Paterson said: “Aaron has worked his backside off in training and after his goal on Saturday, we’ll get him signed on Thursday.
“His experience will do us the world of good.
“You don’t play at the level he has if you are not a good player and he’ll be a great acquisition for us.
“The games are coming thick and fast so there’s a lot of football for him to play.”
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