DAVID CUFFLEY City boss Peter Grant is still optimistic about bringing in a loan signing in time for Saturday's Championship trip to West Bromwich Albion.Grant said he had been expecting to be able to introduce a new loan player at Colney this morning, but the deal was hit by an overnight hitch.

DAVID CUFFLEY

City boss Peter Grant is still optimistic about bringing in a loan signing in time for Saturday's Championship trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Grant said he had been expecting to be able to introduce a new loan player at Colney this morning, but the deal was hit by an overnight hitch.

He declined to name the player or his position, but said it was someone who could go straight into the side at The Hawthorns.

He said: "I thought I had somebody in this morning but that has changed. There's a possibility it could still happen by the weekend. I'm just waiting for a phone call and I will know more later today. The manager threw a spanner in the works at the last minute. I had everything agreed with him to get the boy on loan but he looked at that and thought that maybe it's a risk because he's playing in the team at the moment.

"I was on the phone all day yesterday and finally got the answer I wanted but that has changed a little bit although I'm hoping it will still go through."

Veteran Dion Dublin is set to continue in the centre of defence against West Brom with both Gary Doherty and Craig Fleming still sidelined by injury, but both are said to be improving.

Grant said there had been a "massive improvement" in Doherty's condition after he missed the 1-0 win over Sunderland last Saturday with a back injury.

Said Grant: "We thought it was going to be a major problem with a disc, he couldn't move his back at all and we thought it might need an operation because there is no movement whatsoever.

"But after the weekend he felt a million times better and he has continued that progress. I can't believe the difference.

"He won't be ready for the weekend but he should be training next week and I hope he may be fit for the game at Ipswich."

Grant also revealed that he was in the process of offering skipper Adam Drury a new contract with the club, and he stressed his determination to hang on to another of his prize assets.

With striker Robert Earnshaw having already struck 10 goals this season and preparing to face his old club at The Hawthorns, Grant was asked how he would react to a big cash offer for Earnshaw in January. He said: "I would definitely turn it down. I'm not saying the board would, but I would."