TWTD understands that former Austrian U21 international keeper Michael Langer spent some of last week on trial at Playford Road. The 24-year-old SC Freiburg keeper, who was on trial at Manchester United last month, was expected to stay for the full week but was recalled early to sit on the bench during his club’s 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
Langer, who played in the behind-closed-doors reserves game against Luton at the training ground last Tuesday, was due to train with Town until the weekend but an injury to Freiburg team-mate Oliver Baumann led to his early return to Germany.
Bregenz-born Langer played youth football with FC Hard and Viktoria Bregenz in his home country before joining German side VfB Stuttgart in 2003. In 2004/05 he made his debut for reserves side VfB Stuttgart II, who play in the Regionalliga Süd, the fourth tier of German football.
Langer made his Bundesliga debut for the VfB Stuttgart and his only top flight appearance so far in the 2006/07 season in a game against Wolfsburg.
In January 2008, the 6ft 4½in tall keeper moved on to SC Freiburg for an undisclosed fee. In 2007/08 Langer made 13 appearances for Freiburg in the Second Bundesliga.
Last season, Langer lost his place to Simon Pouplin and made only one appearance in Freiburg’s promotion season, while appearing three times in Regionalliga Süd for their reserves side.
This year, Langer has failed to make the first team and has played for the reserves on four occasions.
Capped twice by the Austrian U21, Langer is contracted to Freiburg until the summer of 2011.
Meanwhile, Bohemians midfielder Gary Deegan, linked with the Blues on a number of occasions earlier in the season, has agreed to join Coventry City on a free transfer in January. The 22-year-old, who has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal, is considered one of the most promising young players in the League of Ireland.
Town's reserve game at Northampton's Sixfields has switched from Tuesday 26th January to Tuesday 27th April with a 2pm kick-off.