"Stephen Crainey is somebody we have looked at," McCarthy told the Sunday Sun.
"I have people looking at players up in Scotland and he's one of a few I have my eye on.
"I'm speaking to Premiership managers about which players they're going to release with a view to next season.
"Things might not be immediate, but I am looking at players who I think might be able to do a job for us in the long term."