Pompey miss out on Premier League striker

Pompey have missed out on a Premier League player in their striker hunt.

But head of recruitment Luke Dowling has revealed they have whittled down the shortlist to one of two candidates as they seek a loan recruit before the weekend.

The Blues had lined-up an experienced Premier League performer to bolster their strikeforce.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yet that move for the unnamed player fell through, with the club unable to offer more than a month-long loan spell due to the current financial restrictions.

Now attention has turned to two other possibles, both with fellow League One clubs.

The necessity to sign up a striker has increased considerably after Luke Rodgers was yesterday ruled out for two to three weeks with a tear in his left thigh.

But Dowling is confident a reinforcement is on the way.

He said: ‘A Premier League striker we spoke to was prepared to come here because he wasn’t in the 25-man squad at his parent club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Unfortunately, though, we can’t do a loan until the January window, which is what he wanted. We are only working a month at a time.

‘So now we are just waiting on two managers to come back to us regarding a striker from each club.

‘They are both playing in this league and one of them has Championship experience.

‘One of the managers is just waiting to make sure he gets his strikers back fit, which will allow us to take one of his on loan.

‘The other played in the Capital One Cup last night.

‘We will get there and I’m sure we’ll get one in for Saturday at least.’