A FORMER Newcastle United starlet could be set to bail Morton out between the sticks this weekend after the club was hit by a goalkeeping crisis.

Derek Gaston suffered an arm injury in the dying minutes of the 1-0 win over Ross County last Friday.

The club’s other first team shotstopper Ryan Scully picked up a knock in training at the start of the week, and neither have been able to train since.

The reserves have no goalkeeper signed after releasing Danny Farrell last month.

However, former Newcastle United player Brendan Pearson has been on trial with the reserves recently and he could be called upon if Scully or Gaston haven’t recovered in time for tomorrow’s clash with Alloa.

The 21-year-old left the Magpies under-23 squad in the summer, after an injury-blighted few years with the Premier League outfit.

The former Gateshead loanee returned last year after spending two years out of the game because he picked up patella tendonitis, which affected his knee.

If Gaston and Scully are not fit in time for tomorrow’s game against the Wasps they could sign Pearson, or they dip into the emergency loan market.

It’s a headache manager Jonatan Johansson would rather do without, but he has plans in place if the worst-case scenario pans out.

He told the Tele: “The goalkeeping situation has been tricky. 

“With Gats being out and Ryan now picking up a knock we’ve not had any goalkeepers fit all week, so we’re obviously making plans in case Ryan can’t make it.

“We’ve had a young keeper up on trial for the reserves, so we’ll see what happens with him.

“Ryan picked up a knock in training. There’s no worse time for it to happen with Gats struggling.

“We’ll assess both tomorrow but we need to put some plans into place.”

Meanwhile, Johansson hopes to add at least one more new recruit to the squad before the game tomorrow.

Dylan Dykes has been on trial for the past two weeks, and has impressed the manager during his time training with the rest of the squad.

And Kilmarnock’s Greg Kiltie has been linked with a temporary switch to Cappielow.

The manager added: “Loans are the most likely way to get players, but if the trialists do well and I think they’re the type we’re looking for and they do well then we will give them a contract.

“He [Dykes] has been here for two weeks now. He’s been doing really well and he’s definitely one we’re maybe looking to bring in if we can arrange it.

“He’s a different type of midfielder than what we have. 
“When I look at the squad from the beginning we have good experience at the club, but experience maybe gives you weaknesses in other areas.

“We’ve been looking for youth, energy and legs in other areas, and someone like Dylan Dykes fits that profile.”