boost North End PRESTON boss David Moyes has signed striker Kevin Gallacher on a one-month contract -- but he may give the players who were hammered by Gillingham another chance to prove themselves.

North End suffered the worst possible start to their First Division campaign when they lost 5-0 to bogey side the Gills -- and will want to make amends in front of their own fans when they face newly promoted Walsall at Deepdale tomorrow.

Scottish international forward Gallacher looks set to be included in tomorrow's squad with the former Newcastle man looking to complete the deal this morning.

The 34-year-old has been training at Deepdale for the past two weeks but has been suffering with a calf strain.

"He has trained very hard and joined in with some football in the last couple of days," said Moyes.

"Provided there is no reaction to this then we should complete his signing on a one-month contract today, with view to a permanent deal.

"But we may give those who played at Gillingham another chance," continued the boss.

"We do though want other players in the squad to provide competition for places and we still need to bring in faces to provide more competition within the squad.

"I think Kevin will be a great asset to us.

"He wants to be in Scotland's squad that will, I hope, go to Japan in 2002 for the World Cup, so he has a lot to play for.

"He will also give us some experience and should help our younger players."

Skipper Sean Gregan is a doubt with a bruised toe while Graham Alexander has trained all week and should be fine. Ryan Kidd, though, is still coming back to fitness.

Moyes is looking forward to getting back to Deepdale and putting the Gillingham result behind them.

"We've talked about the Gillingham result last weekend and it's not been mentioned since," said Moyes. "I look quite deeply at results like that, but it's over now and there's nothing we can do about it.

"What I want is to get a reaction from the players and get back on the rails quickly.

"We need to keep believing and doing the right things.

"I'm sure the players look forward to getting back to Deepdale.

"We've had some really tough pre-season games and then last Saturday, so it's a game where we hope to build and do the right things.

"I think we found out a lot last week and I expect much better from the players. They know that. We don't use excuses here. We just get on with it."

Walsall were promoted last season through the play-offs with victory over Reading while North End's trip to Cardiff didn't have the same reward -- they lost 3-0 to Bolton in the First Division final.

"Walsall are a good side with a good manager who has done really well on a limited budget," added Moyes.

North End have been linked with Huddersfield defender Chris Lucketti. Cardiff had shown an interest in the centre half, who lives in Rochdale, but Moyes is thought to be chasing the £750,000-rated player.