Town boss Joe Royle says he is hopeful that he will add a loan signing to his squad ahead of the Christmas period. Royle strengthened his squad last week when he signed midfielder Darren Currie in a £250,000 deal.

The Town manager said: "There is room in the budget for one loan signing and in an ideal world I'd like to sort something out before the Christmas programme gets under way."

Royle's target looks likely to be a defender, having previously targeted Tottenham's Dean Richards and Justin Hoyte of Arsenal.

Richards may still be in Royle's plans, having recently received the all-clear after a brain tumour scare, while Arsenal may be willing to allow Hoyte to go on loan for the rest of the season now that they have signed Ivorian international right-back Emmanuel Eboue from Belgian side Beveren.

Eboue officially joins the Gunners when the transfer window opens on January 1st.

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