JOE Royle is today hoping that one of two calls will bear fruit on a loan signing - but ruled out Manchester United's Giuseppe Rossi.Although the Blues are going great guns, with an unbeaten run of seven games, including four wins, Royle is keen to offer Alan Lee some support up front from an experienced forward.

By Derek Davis

JOE Royle is today hoping that one of two calls will bear fruit on a loan signing - but ruled out Manchester United's Giuseppe Rossi.

Although the Blues are going great guns, with an unbeaten run of seven games, including four wins, Royle is keen to offer Alan Lee some support up front from an experienced forward.

One name thrown into the equation over the weekend was American-born Italian international Rossi, who made his United debut aged just 17 and has scored in the Premiership.

But Royle last night said: “We did ask about Rossi some while ago and it was a non-starter. It won't be him.

“I have two players in mind and I'm hoping to find out from their managers some time Monday. We don't have a long list. I would rather wait for the right person as we are going along quite nicely at the moment.”

The Blues are hoping to have joint-top scorer Sam Parkin back from injury by the end of the month, although he suffered a minor set-back in his rehabilitation from his broken ankle by missing first-team training at the back end of last week. The striker is still pencilled in for run-out in the reserves against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

With Danny Haynes ruled out for month, Dean McDonald will be hoping to get a call to play in the game at Crewe, although Richard Naylor was deployed as a second striker in the win against Burnley on Saturday, which Royle was delighted about.

Royle said: “I don't think anyone can argue that we deserved to win. It is the first time I have seen time wasting from a team from as early as five minutes. I don't now how we came in at half-time a goal down with all the chances we had. We knew it would be hard to break them down and John McGreal was excellent for them.

“Alan Lee was ploughing a lone furrow without a second striker but was still excellent and hit a post. The keeper then did an amazing acrobatic act to get out of the way of the ball to make sure it didn't go in.”

Royle added: “Five weeks ago, according to the fans' moan-ins we were going down so it is great to see the reversal in the fans' views.

“We were favourites to win this game and we have not had that for while, so that is recognition of how we are improving.”

The suspended Owen Garvan is expected to be the only player from the squad missing for the game at Crewe.

Kevin Horlock was praised for his performance on his debut for Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, with an assist in their opening goal in the 2-0 over Barnsley. Horlock joined Rovers on an initial one-month loan on Friday night.