SAM Parkin and Dean Bowditch will get the opportunity to show their partnership has goals in it this weekend after Joe Royle last night missed out on landing a new loan striker.

By Derek Davis

SAM Parkin and Dean Bowditch will get the opportunity to show their partnership has goals in it this weekend after Joe Royle last night missed out on landing a new loan striker.

The Blues boss had hoped an experienced goal-getter would be arriving but a phone call from the club concerned gave a negative response and Royle will have to carry on his relentless pursuit next week.

The urgency will lessen when Nicky Forster returns from injury but he will need at least one reserve game and the next one is not now scheduled until October 5 at Crystal Palace.

Royle said: “The club concerned could not do anything so nothing happened yesterday. We are putting it to sleep for the weekend and will look at it again next week.

“Dean Bowditch has the promise but is not producing goals while Nicky is closer to coming back but even when he is fit, I would like three experienced strikers on the books.”

Royle last night ruled out any imminent move for Arsenal young gun Arturo Lupoli or sacked Sheffield Wednesday striker Adam Proudlcok.

Royle said: “We have not asked about Lupoli again since we made an inquiry about his availability when he was away with Italy.

“I prefer to look at the experienced strikers for the moment.” Royle denied he was after Proudlcok or was prepared to give him a trial.

He said: “I spoke to Paul Sturrock about the situation just to clarify he is a free agent but we have not made any approach to his agent or anyone. I don't even know who his agent is and at the moment it is unlikely that we will be making any approaches. He has not been invited on trial and at the moment that is also unlikely.”

Royle is keeping the identity of the striker he is after under wraps but is known to have tried to sign Ian Moore on transfer deadline day.

Moore played in Leeds United's 2-0 win at Rotherham after returning from injury but with David Healy suspended and Robbie Blake injured, Kevin Blackwell would be reluctant to let him go out on loan.

Richard Cresswell nabbed both goals and with Rob Hulse also on the books, Leeds will be well off for experienced forwards when Healy and Blake return.

Bowditch and Parkin will be hoping to make their mark in the matches at Leeds and Burnley. Meanwhile, Fabian Wilnis is also likely to be involved after recovering well from his groin strain with Sito Castro likely to keep his place for the game at Elland Road to give Wilnis more time to fully recuperate.

Young Blues midfielder Liam Trotter pressed a claim for a place in the first-team squad this weekend by scoring the only goal for Ipswich Reserves against Leicester City at Portman Road last night.

Dean McDonald also impressed and went close to adding a second for Ipswich with a wicked swerving shot that was tipped over the bar by Conrad Logan. Levi Porter hitting a post was the Foxes' closest chance.

Squads - Ipswich: Supple, Moore, Barron, Juan, Casement, Krause, Peters, (Knights, 61), Trotter, (Mitchell, 80), McDonald, Haynes, (Clarke, 61) and Craig. Subs not used: Lordan and Ainsley.

Leicester: Logan, Magunda, (Lycett, 46), Gilbert, Gerrerand, Norval, Wykes, King, (McKay 52), McGugan, Chambers, Gradle (Tejan-Sle 63) and Porter. Subs not used: Goodwin and Pentley.