PARTICK Thistle have made an approach to Dundee for central defender Darren O'Dea.

Dens Park boss Jim McIntyre yesterday confirmed that the Firhill club had made an enquiry regarding the availability of the ex-Celtic player, and a Thistle source said that Gary Caldwell is indeed hoping to sign his 31-year-old former teammate during the January window.

O'Dea is out of contract at Dundee this summer, and he appears to have slipped down the pecking order at the Premiership strugglers after they signed former Ross County captain Andrew Davies on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Motherwell were last night unaware of any approach that Thistle had made to Hearts to sign their on-loan striker Conor Sammon.

It was reported yesterday that Firhill boss Caldwell was weighing up a bid to bring the Irish forward back to the club where he spent last season on loan, and it is believed that there is some interest from the Championship outfit.

As far as the Fir Park club are concerned, he will remain a Motherwell player for the time-being at least.

Sammon will return from Motherwell's winter training camp in Tenerife this evening along with his teammates as they prepare for next week's Scottish cup tie against Ross County.