Former Middlesbrough and Derby County striker Malcolm Christie could be joining the Whites on a permanent basis according to a report on the Yorkshire Evening Post website. The 29-year-old is currently a free-agent and had been working on his fitness at the club's Thorp Arch training ground, having featured in a reserve fixture and two behind-closed-doors games.
Christie's career has been dogged by a series of injuries which have restricted him to just 178 senior appearances since being plucked from non-league football by Jim Smith in 1998. Despite his frequent lay-off he has maintained a respectable strike rate hitting 45 goals in total.
He has gained recognition at international level, netting three times for England Under 21's in eleven appearances. It seems he has impressed Leeds boss Gary McAllister sufficiently enough for the club to open negotiations with the player and his agent with a view to joining United's League One promotion push.
'It's not a million years ago Middlesbrough were paying a lot of money for him before he got his knock,' said McAllister. 'We're talking to Malcolm and his agent now. We'll see what they looking for.'
