5:00pm Wednesday 8th September 2010
By Andy Naylor
Albion have gone back to the drawing board in the search for defensive cover after missing out on their top target.
Boss Gus Poyet has revealed he had a player in mind but could not secure his services during the August transfer window.
Poyet’s options at the back have been increased by the return from suspension of captain and centre half Gordon Greer for Saturday’s home game against MK Dons.
He would still like a naturally left-footed defender as cover for Greer and, in particular, left-back Marcos Painter.
Poyet told The Argus: “The problem is we couldn’t get the one I wanted. We are not going to get a body in for the sake of it. The target I had in mind we couldn’t get so now we need to start from zero again.”
Poyet’s 37-year-old Argentinian assistant Mauricio Taricco remains an option after making a playing comeback in the reserves last month.
The Albion boss said: “Mauricio is still training. He will play in as many games as he can and then we’ll see.”
The loan transfer window is now open but Poyet’s interest will only be aroused by players he can keep until at least the end of the year.
He said: “At the moment there is nothing at all, because too many people are looking to loan players out for a month and I don’t want them for a month.”
Logical candidates to be loaned out could include Andrew Whing and Mitch Walker or Michael Poke, with last season’s No. 1 Peter Brezovan on the road to recovery from a fractured wrist.
Poyet also plans to cut back on trialists now that his squad has taken shape. Deadline day signing Torbjorn Agdestein was among several recent overseas trialists.
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