Appleton: Outside chance' of striker recruit

The Blues are desperate to add more firepower to the squad during the emergency loan window.

The exits of Conor Clifford and Kevin Long mean there are two spaces left in the squad.

Long may yet return to Fratton Park during the next few days.

Regardless, Appleton has been closing in on a loan striker to bolster his forward line.

With the ownership situation still not sorted, finances are hindering him.

And the Pompey boss remains unsure whether a new recruit will be in place in time for the Meadow Lane fixture.

He said: ‘We had a couple of options.

‘I am not saying they are dead but, like anything, things move in football very, very quickly.

‘There were a couple I thought “what can I do here?”. Then it looked dead in the water a little bit and then it sort of resurfaced over the last 24 hours again.

‘There is an outside chance (for tomorrow), but I am going to be a little bit cautious of it.

‘It might be that spark and new face in the building which just lifts everyone.’

Meanwhile, Long has returned to Burnley following the end of his loan spell.

Appleton will now decide over the next 24 hours whether to bring the central defender back to Fratton Park.

He added: ‘We will make a definite decision over the next 24 hours or so because, theoretically, he has gone back to Burnley.

‘They are prepared to leave that open for a few days because of the situation.’