Manager John Sheridan targets new loan signing for Plymouth Argyle

MANAGER John Sheridan will add an 'attack-minded player' to his squad at Plymouth Argyle as soon as he can.

Sheridan inquired about two targets yesterday, after 19-year-old striker Gozie Ugwu was recalled by Reading from his loan spell with the Pilgrims, and is awaiting responses.

He doubted whether a deal would be finalised before the League Two clash against Bradford City at Home Park tonight (7.45pm).

Securing the services of a new on-loan recruit before the visit of Fleetwood Town on Saturday is a more realistic target.

Sheridan revealed he was not necessarily searching for another striker to replace Ugwu, who made two starts and four substitute appearances for Argyle without getting any goals.

The Pilgrims' boss is considering using on-loan Crystal Palace winger Jason Banton in a more central role.

Banton, 21, has grabbed four goals in seven games and Sheridan wants to make the most of his scoring potential.

So the new addition to the squad at Home Park could be an attacking wide player.

Football League clubs are allowed a maximum of five loan players in their squads on matchdays and the departure of Ugwu leaves Argyle with four.

That quartet are Banton, Lee Cox (Swindon Town), Ronan Murray (Ipswich Town) and Reuben Reid (Yeovil Town).

Sheridan told Herald Sport: "I will definitely be bringing an attack-minded player in. I don't think it will be for tonight but it will be as soon as I can.

"I'm looking at one or two things. Who is scoring our goals at the moment? Jason Banton. So what do I do? Do I play him up front, or give him a free role?

"Whoever I bring in, hopefully they will score or provide goals for us."

Argyle are bottom of the table after losing 2-1 away to League Two leaders Gillingham on Saturday and time is running out for them in their fight to escape relegation.

Sheridan added: "We all know what we need – we need to score goals."

Second-year apprentice striker Tyler Harvey has been added to Argyle's squad for the visit of Bradford, the beaten Capital One Cup finalists.

Harvey, 17, has played seven times for the Pilgrims this season, but his last appearance was on February 2 when they drew 0-0 at home to Dagenham and Redbridge.

Sheridan decided after that to take the talented teenage prospect out of the heat of Argyle's relegation scrap.

However, Harvey has been in goalscoring form for the club's under-18s over recent weeks and, with Ugwu being recalled by Reading, Sheridan has called him up again.

Harvey is set to be on the substitutes' bench against Bradford.

Sheridan said: "He has been playing regularly and scoring goals in the youth team. I think he's ready to be involved again."

Reading exercised a 24-hour recall clause in the second month of Ugwu's loan spell at Argyle to take him back to the Premier League club.

News of his return to the Madejski Stadium came shortly before the relegation-threatened Royals sacked manager Brian McDermott.

Ugwu suffered an ankle injury in training shortly after signing for Argyle in January.

That kept the teenage striker out of action for a couple of weeks and he struggled to break into Sheridan's starting line-up after that.

Sheridan said: "Instead of him being sat on the bench here, Reading want him to get games in the under-21s.

"I would have loved him to be more involved but his injury was a big setback for him."

There will be a full report on Argyle's game against Bradford on The Herald website, www.thisisplymouth.co.uk, shortly after the final whistle.