Town manager Joe Royle admitted that his search for a loan star is unlikely to be successful before Saturday's league game with Sheffield United. Royle was impressed with a number of players during Wednesday's win over Middlesbrough and has a variety of options ahead of the visit to Bramall Lane.

The two main injury worries are Alun Armstrong (hamstring) and John McGreal (calf), both rated as 50/50 but included in the squad. Marcus Bent is due to see a specialist for a second opinion on his groin injury on Friday with fears that he may need an operation.

Thomas Gaardsøe picked up a minor groin niggle which is not thought to be a problem for the weekend. Royle says he is enjoying his football at the moment and that the knock is unlikely to keep him out of the side.

Martijn Reuser and Richard Naylor are both working with physios and are a month away from first team action, although they are both likely to be involved in a reserve/academy practise match next week which the manager wants to arrange due to the dearth of second string league fixtures at present.

The new manager has spent a large amount of this week on the phone to various clubs after a loan striker, but this is yet to yield results: “We're still pursuing players but it's less likely for the weekend now.

“We are looking as during the Palace game we were painfully short up front but there was a little bit of hope in what did last night.

“It's still an urgent thing I want to do but unless I go back in the office now and things happen quickly, which can sometimes happen in football, I wouldn't anticipate it this week.”

He gave a few of his fringe players a run out in the Worthington Cup game which saw the Blues more impressive than in recent league matches. Royle says he has noted their performances: There were a few players who put in ‘look-at-me' performances; Jermaine Wright hasn't figured prominently, Tommy Miller, the young goalkeeper James Pullen has said ‘if you need me, I'm here.'”

“To be honest he was unknown to the staff and not just myself at this level. His career has been down and up in a big way over the last 12 months. Goalkeepers are like that though they can mature quickly. One day they can be as daft as a brush the next they'll mature.

“I think people got a little bit carried away with his performance, I'm not trying to knock it, but he didn't have an awful lot to do but what he did exuded confidence and competence. He certainly said ‘I'm here if you need me' and at the moment I ‘m not looking to bring another keeper in.”

Like Town Sheffield United were in cup upset action on Wednesday, defeating Leeds United 2-1. Royle is impressed by their season so far and the achievements of manager Neil Warnock: “Sheffield United have done amazingly well. Neil has his critics but you've got to admit that his sides are always committed and he's always had fantastic results on limited resources. And again he's done a brilliant job there.

“One of my old players from City, Michael Brown, will be looking to show me that I made a mistake in selling him!”

Photo: Action Images

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