Preston North End can confirm that they are close to signing Scottish full-back Michael Hart after agreeing a fee with SPL club Aberdeen.

The 27-year-old defender is currently undergoing medical tests at Deepdale after picking up a small tear of his hip flexor, an injury which could keep him out of action for three to four weeks.

Hart signed a pre-contract agreement at the start of last week but while North End were hopeful of securing the player in the January transfer window they had to be sure of Hart's fitness.

"We've agreed terms with Aberdeen for the immediate transfer of Michael Hart," Chairman Derek Shaw told pne.com on Wednesday evening.

"He's going for an MRI scan on Wednesday evening, if there's nothing of concern in the MRI scan then we will hopefully complete the deal on Thursday.

"We knew that he was going to be out of action for approximately three weeks and we just wanted to make sure that it wasn't going to be more like three months."

North End will bring you exclusive interviews with Michael Hart as soon as the deal is signed, stay tuned for more details.