NOTTINGHAM Forest are the latest club to be linked with a possible move for Jon Stead.

The City Ground club have agreed to sell Marlon Harewood to West Ham United for £500,000 and now have only one fit striker in Gareth Taylor.

Broken-leg victim David Johnson will be out for at least another two months and Forest have had bids for Marlon King (Gillingham) and Danny Webber (Watford) recently rejected.

Sources in the Midlands are now suggesting manager Paul Hart could turn the focus to Stead, especially following the 20-year-old's brilliant double in the 3-3 draw at Mansfield which took his season's tally to 14.

Stead, of course, is a target for Sunderland, who have not publicly followed up their initial £800,000 bid of almost a month ago.

Speculation in the north east is that Stead is now valued at £1.5m and that Town are keen to hang on until at least the transfer window in January to assess possible interest from the Premiership.

Town boss Peter Jackson played the issue with a straight bat today.

"It's all just rumour and speculation and people trying to put two and two together," he said.

"I've heard nothing from Nottingham Forest and with regard to any fee, we have never put a price on Steady's head. It's as simple as that."

Jackson fields his loan signing Fola Onibuje in tonight's friendly against Harrogate Town at Wetherby Road (7.30) and welcomes back a number of players from lay-offs.

Steve Yates will play alongside Efe Sodje in a back four, while young Andy Holdsworth returns from back trouble in midfield.

Adnan Ahmed (ankle) is also back to partner Onibuje up front for a match which is £5 entry (£3 concessions).

"It's a good chance for our fans to have a look at Fola and also for some of the other lads to play their first matches in a while," said Jackson, who had Andy Booth (hamstring) back in light training today.

Ian Gray (hand), Jon Newby (knee) and David Mirfin (hamstring) are out.

Town - Giles, Booty, Yates, Sodje, Edwards, Holdsworth, Mattis, Holland, Thorrington, Ahmed, Onibuje. Subs: Collins, McAliskey, Hardy, Thompson.