Reds boss Keith Hill will this week restart his search to find a new front man to lead the line in the absence of Craig Davies.
Hill desperately sought to bring in a striker on loan before the game with Nottingham Forest last weekend but his efforts proved futile. The Reds 43 year old gaffer will step up his efforts again to try to bring somebody in before his side visit Hull this weekend, but Sheffield Wednesday’s Chris O’Grady is not on his hit list.
The Reds made an enquiry for the former Rochdale man who scored 19 goals in 75 games for Hill at Spotland, in the summer but were rebuked by their South Yorkshire neighbours.
Rumours have now resurfaced that Hill will try again for the 26 year old but director Don Rowing has denied this, saying:
“We made enquires about Chris some time ago but nothing came of it. I know Keith wants a striker, but we’ve not made a new enquiry for Chris or made an official offer for him.
Meanwhile Hill has denied he is facing external pressure to change his goalkeeper ahead of this weekend’s short trip to Humberside.
Ben Alnwick, a summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur has been the club’s number one so far this season as regular stopper Luke Steele recovered from a stomach problem that curtailed his 2011-2012 campaign in March. The 28-year-old former Manchester United youngster is now fit and has been sat on the substitutes bench for the last nine games.
It is well documented that Steele is not a patient viewer, and will not settle for a second spell as understudy in his four years at the club after being number two to Heinz Muller between 2007 and 2009.
Hill rejected a loan offer for Steele from Sheffield United a couple of weeks ago and he told the Sheffield Star:
“I’ve seen there’s a massive call for me to put Luke back in, but I’ve got to be strong and do what I believe is right,”
“I could put Luke back in this Saturday, but then again I might not. I’ve got to do what’s right for the team.
“Ben has been absolutely magnificent for us this season and he’s improving all the time. We did a lot of work with him in the closed-season and, apart from against Brighton and Wolves; he’s done very well.
“It’s not just Ben’s fault though if we concede goals; it’s a team responsibility.
“At the end of the day I understand Luke’s position and he has knocked on my door and we’ve had a chat about it.
“There’s no question that Luke is an excellent goalkeeper but it’s good to have that rivalry. It keeps both of them on their toes.”