Chris Lakey Paul Lambert says he has been forced to name unfit players on his subs' bench - and that lack of money is hindering his hopes of adding to his squad. Rhoys Wiggins and Matt Gill have been named on the bench for the games at Carlisle and Leeds respectively, even though the City boss wanted them to get more reserve team games under their belt as they fight their way back from injury.

Chris Lakey

Paul Lambert says he has been forced to name unfit players on his subs' bench - and that lack of money is hindering his hopes of adding to his squad.

Rhoys Wiggins and Matt Gill have been named on the bench for the games at Carlisle and Leeds respectively, even though the City boss wanted them to get more reserve team games under their belt as they fight their way back from injury.

Lambert has more injury concerns ahead of this afternoon's game against Swindon, with decisions to be made on Jon Otsemobor, Korey Smith, Luke Daley and Cody McDonald.

It leaves him thin on the ground and ready to take more risks on the bench, but Lambert says he has no option.

Two attempts to strengthen his squad have come to nothing - the bid for Exeter defender Danny Seaborne was turned down flat, while Anthony McNamee is likely to line up at Carrow Road against City today, less than two months after Swindon rejected City's offer.

Lambert says he is paying the price for last year's heavy reliance on the loan system and the bill City were left with - and admits the cupboard is bare.

"We can't afford them," he said. "I am not going to sit here and say it's great, but it's happened, and it's something I am not going to go on about because the current group of lads are giving me everything they've got, they've been brilliant. But the money is not there at the minute."

It's a case of needs must, so Gill and Wiggins come into the reckoning again this afternoon.

"They are still not ready for major first team games," said Lambert. "He (Gill) played the other night at Carrow Road and did a spell at Northampton, but still not enough games to play him right away.

"Rhoys Wiggins is the same because Rhoys has not played many games either - you can't throw people in for the sake of throwing them in.

"We don't have anybody else really. A load of young kids but they're not ready."

Owain Tudur Jones made his first appearance since a calf injury in the Carling Cup defeat at home to Sunderland when he played the second half at Northampton, but, like Gill, has a long way to go.

"They have done fine," said Lambert. "They are still short of a lot of the lads in our group because they haven't trained at the intensity those lads have. If they keep on training and keep on going they will get up to speed with a lot of things but they are well short of first team fitness. The more they train the more they'll get used to it and hopefully they will be up to speed and ready to be considered."