Barnet manager Martin Allen says signing Aaron McLean on a short-term deal is a gamble after revealing Kevin Lisbie could require surgery on his hamstring.

Lisbie has been out since going off with a hamstring injury during Barnet’s final pre-season friendly at Eastleigh at the beginning of August.

On Wednesday Allen completed the signing of former Peterborough United and Hull City striker McLean on a short-term deal, despite previously making it clear he wanted to work with a squad of 19 and was not in the market for any further additions.

However, speaking to the club website Allen said: “I had a bit of a dilemma at the beginning of the week. The MRI scan on Kevin Lisbie’s hamstring came back and it’s not good news. He’s going to be out longer and possibly needs surgery.

“I was really looking forward to having him back and coming into our team, because Kevin Lisbie is a very good player.

“So I had to look around and find somebody who could come in on a three-month deal. I didn’t want to take anyone from the Under-21 Premier League, I wanted someone who’s seen it and done it, got experience and can lead the line.”

McLean struggled for form last season and scored just four goals in 36 appearances for Bradford City and Peterborough.

Allen will be hoping the striker can go some way towards repeating the 29 goals he scored for Posh when he last played in League Two in 2007/08 en-route to winning promotion with Darren Ferguson’s side.

“It’s a gamble,” admitted Allen. “I think it’s fair to say that Aaron hasn’t had a very good last 18 months. But I saw him play in pre-season for Dagenham & Redbridge, away at Braintree Town. He came on as a sub for half an hour and he was electric.

“You can forget the McLean of the past; what he was like at Aldershot, how good he was when he was at Peterborough and at other clubs.

“I can’t imagine he’s going to start that many games, but he’s going to be a real threat coming off the bench.”