STAN TERNENT has stepped up his bid to keep Liam Dickinson on loan for a third and final month after learning Andy Booth will be out of action until the New Year.
Strike legend Booth needs surgery on the back problem which has limited him to three starts and a further appearance from the bench this season.
Football League rules would allow Derby player Dickinson, the closest thing Town have to the 34-year-old in terms of build and technique, to stay until the big derby at Leeds on Saturday, November 15.
But Pride Park boss Paul Jewell, who has a 24-hour recall facility on the former Stockport star whose current loan lasts until the trip to Hartlepool on Tuesday, will have to agree to an extension.
Jewell was at Swindon on Saturday, when Dickinson, 23, took his Town goal tally to four in eight games in the 3-1 League I win.
Booth hasn’t played since the 3-2 home win over Northampton last month, when his second goal of the season took his club tally to 144 and total career haul to 178.
“It’s a big setback for Boothy,” said Ternent, who awarded the local hero a new one-year contract soon after his appointment as manager.
“He’s a very important player for us and we can only hope the operation sorts him out and allows him to come back stronger for the second half of the season.
“It’s not something to go into lightly, but Boothy hasn’t responded to the other forms of treatment we have tried, and he’ll be in expert hands during the surgery.”
On the Dickinson situation, Ternent explained: “We’d like to keep him for the full period allowed, but it’s totally down to Paul.
“Liam is obviously his player, and it depends on Derby’s requirements over the next month.
“Hopefully the 24-hour recall will help sway things in our favour, although we have to accept that we could lose Liam at any time.”
Town reserves are in action at Barnsley tonight (see Page 42).
