Garry Monk has confirmed they are actively looking for a replacement for Cheikh N’Doye following his departure from the club, but they don’t have one specific player lined up.
The injury to David Davis, combined with Craig Gardner’s suspension, means the manager has just two available central midfielders to choose from for tonight’s game. Speaking at his pre-match press conference yesterday, he said:
“Losing Cheikh, an experienced player, and David Davis (ankle injury) has weakened the area. Even though we bought Gary Gardner in, we need to assess it. We need to understand our options. But we’re working hard behind the scenes under the restrictions we have to find the right players. It isn’t easy, but if somebody comes along then great.”
With the loan fee we reportedly got for N’Doye, it was unsurprising the 32-year-old was let go, especially if you consider his wages as well.
That won’t comfort Monk, however, who really needs some cover in the middle of the park before the August 31 deadline. Our options are limited, with loan and out-of-contract players our only possibilities.
Still, there are some great young players at Premier League clubs who could well be available on loan. The £10k a week wage limit may stop us from getting the best recruits, but I do trust the manager and his staff to find a hidden gem.
