Town manager Joe Royle is refusing to confirm or deny that Arsenal's Justin Hoyte is his loan target. TWTD reported that the 19-year-old was in the frame yesterday with the story quickly spreading to other media sources.

Royle said: "I'm not announcing or renouncing names, as it just turns into a guessing farce.

"I had thought the deal would have been done by now but that has not been the case and I'm regretting saying on Saturday that we were close.

"We are still speaking to clubs and I'm still hopeful. We have one or two prospects and one I feel is favourable but he won't be here before the Newcastle game or maybe not even before the weekend."

Earlier in the week, Royle denied making move for Southampton's Chris Baird and ruled out rumoured interest in Arsenal's Gael Clichy and Chelsea's Robert Huth and Glen Johnson.

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