LEE CLARK is ready to raid the loan market as he aims to keep Town on the winning trail.
The boss watched in satisfaction as his 10-man team beat Walsall with another sizzling Anthony Pilkington strike to go second in League I and leave their visitors rock-bottom.
But a 24th-minute straight red card for striker Alan Lee, who caught defender Manny Smith with an arm, means the former Crystal Palace man must serve a three-match ban.
Clark’s problems are compounded by the absence of Lee Novak because of a hamstring tear and the fact that on-loan Joe Garner is unlikely to be allowed to figure in Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie at Cambridge by his parent club Nottingham Forest.
In addition, the terms of the loan deals which took Theo Robinson to Millwall and Robbie Simpson to Brentford means recalls are unlikely to be an option.
Garner and Jordan Rhodes are in pole position to face Sheffield Wednesday in tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited derby at Hillsborough.
And Clark said: “I should imagine those two will be rubbing their hands at the possibility of being involved.
“Hillsborough is a fantastic old stadium where I enjoyed playing myself and it will be rocking. It’s going to be a hell of a game to be part of.”
On the chance of a loan, Clark added: “I know from conversations with the board that it’s a possibility, and you always have targets in mind.”
Clark had no quibble with Lee’s sending off, the fifth for a Town player this season, saying: “He certainly caught the Walsall player and if someone had done that to one of my lads I would be wondering what was happening if he’d stayed on the pitch.
“Alan let frustration get the better of him. He’s apologised to myself, my staff and his teammates and he will be dealt with under our internal disciplinary procedure.
“I did think that, when we went down to ten men so early, and when we hadn’t started the way I wanted, that it could be one of those horrible days.
“But the lads stuck together brilliantly, and their determination and desire to win the game was key.
“They had to do a little bit more than usual, and we still showed creativity and had opportunities to score more than the one goal. Then, when they started to throw everything at us, the lads stood up to be counted.
“My experienced players are coming to the fore, none more so that (keeper) Ian Bennett, who has been terrific.”
Pilkington’s goal was his sixth in five games and eighth of the season and Clark said: “He’s firing on all cylinders at the moment after a big change to his life with the birth of his first child.
“He’s going to have plenty of stories to tell Alfie, because he scores some great goals, with this right up there.”
