Adam Clayton is taking part in Town’s pre-match preparations and manager Mark Robins expects him to be available for the big Championship opener against Bournemouth.

The 25-year-old had seemed set for a transfer to divisional rivals Middlesbrough, with fellow midfielder Jacob Butterfield possibly coming the other way in a separate deal.

But the moves have gone on hold, with Bradford-born Butterfield continuing to work as normal at Boro’s Rockcliffe training base as Spanish boss Aitor Karanka gears up for the Riverside Stadium clash with Birmingham.

Robins refused to discuss Butterfield while Karanka said: “He is my player. I will speak very well about Butterfield because he is a very good player, a very professional player and a very good lad.”

On last season’s Player of the Year Clayton, also linked with Brighton over the summer, Robins said: “Adam is our player and that remains the case until I am told otherwise. I expect him to be available against Bournemouth.”

Having brought in Liverpool midfielder Conor Coady in a £375,000 deal this week, Robins, who is holding talks with trialist centre-back Sean St Ledger over a possible deal, says he still has other recruitment targets.

“I would like to continue to bring new faces in to help us,” he said.

“We have got young players here, and we talk about a pathway. But we also want a successful team out on the pitch.

“I have identified areas where I want to strengthen and need to strengthen.

“I am hopeful we can do more business as and when the players I want become available.”

Republic of Ireland international St Ledger, 29, a free agent after leaving Leicester, played in Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Newcastle at the John Smith’s Stadium.

“Sean is an experienced, international player, a talker and an organiser and a good lad who I like having around the place,” said Robins.

“He has not played as much football as he could have done over last 18 months or so. One or two injuries have kept him out and we have to make sure we can get enough football from him to warrant doing a deal.”