Blues boss Paul Lambert says he’s no nearer to adding another striker to his squad on loan having lost out to other clubs regarding a couple of targets but is continuing his search.

Lambert is looking at bringing in an additional frontman with Oli Hawkins having undergone knee surgery, Kayden Jackson currently suspended for three games and James Norwood having an ongoing hamstring problem.

“That’s where it was on Tuesday,” Lambert said when asked whether there had been any progress on an addition.

“We tried to see if we could get a young one in because of the salary cap, the way it is. But we can’t go and buy Cristiano Ronaldo, we’re going to have to get a young one, and that’s if you can get one.”"

Quizzed on the chances of getting someone in before Monday’s 11pm deadline and whether he has targets identified, he said: “We tried for a couple, we lost out to other teams, but we’ll try again.”

Lambert reiterated that any further addition would have to be a loanee aged below 21 on New Year’s Day 2020 due to the constraints of the salary cap with the Blues looking at players with Premier League or Championship clubs.

“It has to be because we don’t have the finances,” he said. “As I said, we have to look.

“I brought in Josh [Harrop] from Preston, but obviously, he’s not here at the minute. Luke [Thomas] I thought had a really good game [against Peterborough] and I thought he was really good the other night

“I thought he looked exciting to make things happen. So it needs to be that kind of higher level I think, but it would be a young one.”

When he took over at Town in October 2018, Lambert said that he wanted to reduce the number of loan signings the club has made, but the striker would be the fifth.

However, he says that’s down to current circumstances rather than what he sees as ideal.

“That’s it,” he said. “That’s exactly it. If we can’t go out and buy anybody it’s the loan thing we have to go out and try and do. We don’t have those resources which probably a lot of people think we have.”

Whoever comes in can’t just be another body in the squad, he says: “They have to try and make a contribution.”

Regarding potential exits, Lambert would like to get youngsters such as Armando Dobra, Idris El Mizouni and Brett McGavin out to play games in League Two or the Vanarama National League.

“Some of the young ones, some of the young kids that people enquire about,” he said. “The young ones need games, they need senior games rather than U23 games, they need men’s football.”

Would he liked to have moved on any of his senior players this month in order to free up a place in the squad and some wages?

“No, number one, people have got to want you, that’s the thing,” he said. “People have got to want the guys. We’re not forcing anybody out at all, they have to fight to get in the side and cope with all the other stuff. But first and foremost people have got to want you.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Sindre94 added 10:43 - Jan 29 Save the team, the fans and Lambert him self from this ongoing misery and bring a new manager in asap. This sure is a slow death.
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Len_Brennan added 10:50 - Jan 29 If the club is backing him on bringing in a striker (3rd signing of the window), he ain't going nowhere, is he? Sigh!
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norfolkbluey added 10:56 - Jan 29 Must be difficult for Lambert when he knows that anyone with sense will look who wants to sign them and decides it would be better to stay where they are. The reasons are, 1 Am I likely to get injured within a week 2 Will I play in the role I want to play 3 Lambert's tactics so I will have nobody beside me up front. "I think I'll stay where I am."
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Fixed_It added 10:59 - Jan 29 The saddest bit is that no-one wants our players. That speaks volumes...
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runningout added 11:01 - Jan 29 horrendous at this club on all fronts
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FrankMarshall added 11:01 - Jan 29 Desperately in need of a striker so this is good news. Well if we sign one that is. What happened to Tyreece Simpson, looked good when he played?
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OsborneOneNil added 11:06 - Jan 29 Painful.
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:10 - Jan 29 Fixed it ,sadder still nobody wants our manager either .
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Bluejake added 11:19 - Jan 29 I know there are salary cap restrictions but isn't it so sad to hear Lambert say that we wouldn't even have the finances to buy a player (even if the restrictions permitted) that would be good enough to get us out of the third tier of English football. Evans, you've got so much to answer for with your ongoing underinvestment.
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Kesblue66 added 11:24 - Jan 29 Who would want to come here at the moment and play under Lambert.Please someone come and buy this club and get a good manager.
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Razor added 11:25 - Jan 29 Other clubs seem to do business with no fuss and bother but when it comes to ITFC everyhting becomes difficult. If you have to make room ship out Freddie as soon as you like----surely his wages could fund 2 young guns which is what we need----DESPERATELY!!
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mrfixit426 added 12:09 - Jan 29 What young, promising talent would want to come to this club and play for this dinosaur?
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MonkeyAlan added 12:30 - Jan 29 Just go Lambert. Evans you muppet.
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DifferentGravy added 13:13 - Jan 29 Cracks me up......now using the lack of a forward as his latest excuse. When we had injuries a plenty in midfield..........there was a surplus of forwards sitting on the bench. Rather than tweak the formation/tactics......he kept a 4-5-1, players out of position and dropped Gibby into the middle of it all. Who can forget the time he played Judge up as the lone forward......big, strong Judgy....able to get flick ons, use his lightening pace for balls down the side and his strength to hold the ball up (slaps head in disbelief) Now he claims he needs a forward. So.....Sears, Drinan, Simpson to fill one forward position not sufficent Excuse after excuse................CLUELESS MANAGER......LEAVE OUR CLUB

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SickParrot added 13:45 - Jan 29 One way for Lambert to sell the club to a new striker could be to tell them that they can play and socially distance from their team mates at the same time!
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istanblue added 18:05 - Jan 29 Lost out to other League 1 teams I'm assuming. Depressing.
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