2:28pm Friday 18th January 2008
Aberdeen defender Michael Hart's transfer to Preston could be delayed by injury.
The 27-year-old full-back has signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Deepdale in the summer and Irvine was hoping to agree terms with Aberdeen to bring him to North End during the January transfer window.
A scan on Thursday, however, revealed that Hart has picked up a hip injury.
The injury will be investigated by PNE medical staff before the move goes ahead.
North End boss Alan Irvine said: "We want to try and investigate the injury, and if it is not serious we would then hope to get an agreement with Aberdeen about the fee and hopefully get Michael down here within the next few days."
Irvine added that Hart would definitely be joining North End but if his injury was more long-term and would keep him out of action for a few months then the club would wait until the summer when his contract with Aberdeen expires.
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