JOHN THORRINGTON was today in talks with Grimsby as Town boss Peter Jackson pursued his Preston counterpart Craig Brown over Pawel Abbott.

While Jackson is keen to extend Polish Under 21 striker Abbott's McAlpine stay - whether by extended loan or a permanent deal - American wingman Thorrington has been told he doesn't figure in plans for next season.

The 24-year-old, who has made only six appearances this term to take his Town total to 74 with eight goals, headed over to Blundell Park to speak to new Mariners manager Nicky Law.

If the talks go smoothly, he is likely to sign a short-term deal and could line-up for the relegation-threatened club in Saturday's crucial home Division II clash with Bournemouth.

Town, beaten 1-0 at basement side Carlisle on Tuesday, aim to get their bid for automatic promotion from Division III back on course at home to struggling Macclesfield in a match which marks the end of Abbott's initial one-month loan.

Preston boss Brown has said he will only consider a permanent transfer, but Jackson, keen to sort things out before Saturday, today insisted: "There are a number of options and a number of issues to take into account.

"Talks are ongoing and I'm keen to move things on.

"I've been more than pleased with Pawel, and while he hasn't found the net in the last two games, both his workrate and application are excellent and he's built up a good partnership with Andy Booth."

Jackson is optimistic that Booth, already playing with a hand injury, will recover from the ankle knock sustained at Carlisle to face up to Macclesfield.

But Steve Yates now looks likely to be out for at least three weeks as a result of the hamstring injury which forced him off after 43 minutes at Brunton Park.

While teenage centre-back David Mirfin came on, another possible replacement, Ian Hughes, lasted just 20 minutes of last night's Pontin's League Premier Division Reserve clash against Hull before limping off with a knee injury.

Town went down 3-2 in the clash at North Ferriby, with Rob Edwards and Jon Newby, who came on as a substitute at Carlisle, on the scoresheet.

Edwards' 30th-minute cross-cum-shot cancelled out a third-minute opener by Clayton Donaldson, just back at Hull after a loan spell with Halifax.

Hull looked to be in control when Jamie Forrester (39 minutes) and Justin Whittle (47) scored with headers.

But Newby, who has yet to score for the first team, made a game of it when he reacted quickest to knock home the rebound after Adnan Ahmed's 52nd-minute shot was blocked.

While Thorrington played the first 45 minutes, teenage right-back Lee Simms, recently released by Manchester United, made a second appearance on trial for Town's second string.

The club are offering a free ticket for either Saturday's match with Macclesfield or Tuesday's home showdown with Rochdale to fans who buy an away shirt or a goalkeeper's shirt from the Stadium shop.