English Premier League side Sunderland say they will take the decision on Nigeria striker Chinedu Obasi by next week after the Nigerian striker started a trial with the Black Cats.
The Black Cats took the Nigeria international on trial, as coach Sam Allardyce looks to boost his attacking options with his side struggling in the league.
The 29-year-old had trouble with shin injuries during his stay at Schalke, and made just 10 Bundesliga starts in three years at the club.
Obasi, who is a free agent after being released by German side Schalke over the summer, has been training with the Black Cats and Allardyce intends to decide next week whether to offer him a contract.
Allardyce said: “He’s been injured with a broken shin and that had taken a long time for him to recover, and he spent some rehab time in America.
“His agent got hold of me and said he was worth looking at based on his CV, which looked pretty good, so we’ll make a judgment early next week.”
Sunderland currently have one space available in their 25-man Premier League squad, which could be filled by a free agent.
Obasi has impressed at international level, playing in the Super Eagles side that finished third in the 2010 African Cup of Nations, and he also played in the World Cup that same year.
He was a member of the Super Eagles Under 20 side that finished as runners-up in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, and was in the U23 team that won Olympic silver medals in 2008.