BRAEHEAD Clan are inching closer to bringing back inspirational captain Matt Keith for a third campaign in purple.

The Canadian has been a key figure for Ryan Finnerty’s side since he arrived on Clydeside back in the summer of 2014, playing 113 games in just two seasons, scoring 43 goals and providing 82 assists in the process.

Keith has embraced the way of life around Braehead and has naturally become settled in Scotland.

Despite that, speculation has been increasing that the 33-year-old former National Hockey League man could be set to retire from the game and return across the pond.

However, Braehead are not ready to give up on their star man.

Our sister paper the Evening Times understands Keith has attracted the attention of Elite League champions the Sheffield Steelers as well as the Belfast Giants, who both want to keep the ex-Chicago Blackhawk on British ice for one more season.

But it is believed that if he is to hang around in the EIHL for another term, it would be to pull on the purple jersey of Braehead as they go again in their quest for a first ever league title.

Clan’s hockey & operations director Gareth Chalmers is hopeful the club are closing in on a deal and said: “Matt has been an integral part of the growth of the club over the past three years and is obviously someone we want to bring back.

“We’re working hard to get him back, despite other interest and are hopeful of finalising a deal very soon.”

The 2016-17 season could also see Keith pull on a Great Britain jersey for the first time, with the Edmonton native now eligible to play for the national team after two consecutive years in the EIHL.

Keith has grown to become a massive part of the Braehead operation and played a key role in keeping Braehead's play-off push going during an injury-ravaged second half to the season and it was no surprise that he clinched the Player of the Year award.

The news about Clan trying to talk their star man away from retirement comes just a few days after Thomas Nesbitt hung up his skates.

The 25-year-old made 61 appearances in Clan purple, scoring 17 goals and assisting in 12 in his first and only trip overseas from North America.

He said: “I was pretty sure heading into the campaign there that it would be my last and that’s why I made the decision to come overseas.

“It meant I could see a bit of the world and I knew that if I didn’t take the opportunity I would always regret it.

“It never changed my mind about wanting to give up the game so it’s turned out to be my last year.”