BAHRAINI international defender Sayed Mohamed Adnan is within days of signing a Brisbane Roar contract as coach Ange Postecoglou prepares for life after Matt McKay.

Provided work permit issues are resolved, Postecoglou expects McKay to accept an offer from Scottish giants Rangers.

McKay's agent Leo Karis yesterday said the Roar skipper's application for a British work permit would not be heard until next week and that his client would definitely be returning to Australia after the Socceroos' clash with Wales in Cardiff tomorrow morning.

But Postecoglou is seemingly planning for life without midfielder McKay, with the experience of 28-year-old Adnan set to be crucial in Brisbane's bid for successive A-League titles.

"It's not only that he's a very good player, but I like his character," Postecoglou said of Adnan, capped 79 times for Bahrain.

"He's good to have around our young guys. He's very popular with all the players.

"I was never trialling his ability. To me that was never in doubt and never in question. He wanted to feel comfortable with us, and he's fitted in very well with the whole group."

Adnan will play at least half a game tonight when the Roar take on Brisbane City in a trial at Spencer Park.

He is not the only impending signing, with Postecoglou set to offer pre-season revelation Nick Fitzgerald a fulltime youth team contract at the least.

The likely departure of McKay will free about $330,000 in the salary cap, allowing Postecoglou to not only replace the captain in the midfield but also look overseas for an attacking option to further cover the losses of Kosta Barbarouses and Jean Carlos Solorzano.

Postecoglou admitted McKay's expected departure would "leave a huge hole" at the Roar.

"It's not just about money. It's about people, and he's the captain of the club. You can't buy that," the Roar mentor said.

"We'll certainly be bringing in a replacement and I'm sure it'll be someone that will contribute to our team the way every other person we've brought in has.

"In terms of Matty McKay the person, I don't think we'll be able to replace somebody like him, but that doesn't mean we can't be successful either.

"If you're ambitious enough and you like a challenge, and we certainly do, then you can still continue to be successful."

Tonight's Roar-City clash kicks off at 7pm. Gold Coast United are also in action when they meet Sunshine Coast Fire at Stockland Park from 7pm.

Originally published as Bahraini defender to sign for Roar