DANNY LENNON will run the rule over ex-Rangers star Nacho Novo as he bids to bolster his St Mirren ranks in the coming days.

The Spaniard is a free agent after leaving SPFL Championship side Morton last year and does not have to be signed before the end of the transfer window on Friday evening.

Boss Lennon has already brought in Adam Campbell and Gregg Wylde this month and after seeing his side go down 2-1 to Hearts last night he has confirmed he is still in the market for reinforcements.

Lennon said: "It has been a very busy period for us and I would hope that within the next day or two we have got one or two to show for our efforts.

"I had a chat with Nacho (yesterday) and we have invited him in for a couple of days training. We will see how that goes. He has got good experience.

"We will make a decision on that. It is not one that has to be done within the window."

If Novo does sign on this week, the former Ibrox star could make his debut against Celtic on Sunday as Lennon's side look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in the capital last night.

After failing to find the net on Saturday as they drew 0-0 with relegation rivals Partick Thistle, the Buddies wasted little time in making the breakthrough at Tynecastle.

The game was barely 30 seconds old when striker Steven Thompson rose above the Jambos defence and headed beyond keeper Jamie MacDonald to give the visitors the perfect start as they look to haul themselves away from the Premiership play-off zone.

Unfortunately for Lennon and the travelling Saints support, their lead would only last a matter of seconds as Hearts pulled themselves level with four minutes on the clock, Calum Paterson powering home a header after connecting with David Smith's deflected cross.

While Hearts came close as Paterson again caused problems in the air and forced Marian Kello into a superb stop on his Gorgie return, St Mirren should have gone in at the break ahead.

Playmaker Paul McGowan spurned a glorious chance when he fluffed his lines from a Campbell cross before Marc McAusland saw a diving header come crashing back off the bar.

The Buddies' profligacy would come back to haunt them just after the restart as they found themselves behind and down to 10 men.

McAusland was deemed to have impeded Dale Carrick as the Jambos kid raced through on goal and was sent off by referee Steven McLean, ruling him out of the trip to Parkhead.

Jamie Hamill made no mistake from the spot, sending Kello the wrong way with a well-placed spot-kick.

Lennon said: "A big, big decision has cost us. I have seen the incident four or five times from different angles and I'm still not sure.

"Is it inside the box? No it is not. It is a big call that has gone against us."

It wasn't long before the Buddies boss turned to his bench for inspiration, Wylde taking the place of Campbell as his side battled their way back into the game.

Jim Goodwin saw a curling free-kick palmed away by MacDonald and Thompson couldn't convert a teasing Wylde cross from the left flank as the visitors became frustrated.

In a frantic finale, Carrick poked an effort off the post and Kello blocked a stinging Scott Robinson drive, but there was to be no hero as St Mirren remain just three points ahead of 11th-placed Thistle.