COLCHESTER United manager John Ward has revealed his efforts to sign a loan striker won’t come to fruition in time for Saturday’s visit of MK Dons.

The U’s are one of the lowest scoring sides in the top half with just 41 goals to their name over 35 league games and it is that lack of clinicality which has kept them just outside of the top six for much of the campaign.

With 11 games to play there is still an outside chance that the Essex side could make up a 10 point gap and qualify for the play-offs and, with that in mind, manager John Ward has been frantically searching for a loan striker that could make the difference.

However, the U’s boss revealed at this morning’s press conference that no new arrival is imminent ahead of Saturday’s visit of top six rivals MK Dons.

“There won’t be a new face in for the weekend,” said Ward, who is without top-scorer David Mooney for the next two games through suspension.

“There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes, but that’s now been held off until next week. There’s no certainty we will get a new face in, but I’m trying very hard to see if we can do that.

“Any signing would really have to improve the squad I’ve got rather than just being underneath it and that’s proving difficult because a lot of managers are trying to do the same.”

He continued: “It’s not an easy one at this stage of the season because all managers want to keep their players for the run-in.

“If someone said to me would you loan us a player that’s maybe just in your squad I’d probably say not at the minute because I need those players myself. That’s managers being managers, they have to look after themselves and their club first and foremost.

“I spoke to as Premier League club yesterday about a player and he said he’d rather they went out to a Championship club and I fully understand that.

“So there’s different various for why we haven’t got someone in yet but it doesn’t stop me trying.”

– For all the latest U’s news, including the latest on contracts, see tomorrow’s EADT.