COLCHESTER United manager John Ward is trying to bring in a left-back on loan after agreeing the sale of Marc Tierney to Norwich City.

Tierney – who had rejected a new deal at the U’s and was due to be out-of-contract in the summer – is set to join the Canaries on a two-and-a-half year deal today having passed a medical yesterday afternoon.

The fee remains undisclosed although U’s boss Ward says it was a ‘good deal’ for the Essex club.

Ward has already brought Irish left-back Conor Powell to the club on a free transfer in the January transfer window but the 23-year-old is not yet ready for first team action due to the Irish season having finished back in November.

As a result, Ward says he may now look to bring in further reinforcements for that position over the next few days.

“I’ve tried to stabilise with a loan player for the next month or so but at this moment in time that’s not going to happen for Friday (home against Bournemouth),” said Ward.

“It’s a position I think we need an established player in for the next little while at the very least, but as I say we’ve not been able to replace Marc with a senior player yet.

“Late last night I got a bit of a knock back on a player I was hoping to get across and I’ve made a phone call this morning to another club about a different player I want to get in.

“If my latest phone call proves negative then I won’t chase anybody else, I’ll go into Bournemouth with the group of players we have available and we’ll try our very best.”

Reflecting on Tierney’s departure, the defender having missed the last three games with a dead leg and virus, Ward said: “We’ve not had Marc’s services for a little while so it’s been disappointing he’s not been able to go out on a bit of a bang for us, but he’s moving to a Championship club that’s got realistic ambitions of moving up another level as well so it’s a good move to him.

“We made Marc an offer, he turned it down and Norwich came in. It was just done as normal football business.

“I think Marc is one of the best players in this division in that position, he’s a very good left-back and that’s obviously been recognised.

““We have got a good deal for him though that suits our football club. We knew Marc would have been out-of-contract and those things you have to deal with. We’ve stood our ground a little bit and made sure we’ve got a deal we’re comfortable with.”

Colchester had experienced left-back Tom Williams on loan for three months prior to Christmas and he is now a free agent after being released by Bristol City, however the U’s are unlikely to turn to him again as he is struggling with a groin injury.

– Colchester United host high-fliers Bournemouth in a League One match tomorrow night. For full preview, see tomorrow’s EADT.