Paris out - but Prem kid in

GRIMSBY Town were dealt a blow ahead of today's big match with Cheltenham Town after loan striker Paris Cowan-Hall was ruled out.

But boss Neil Woods reacted quickly to the setback by signing young Burnley forward Wes Fletcher on an initial one-month loan deal.

Town sealed the 19-year-old's services late last night, and he is expected to go straight into the side to face the Robins at Blundell Park (3pm).

Portsmouth teenager Cowan-Hall has gone down with tonsillitis and is denied a full debut for the Mariners.

It was yet another setback for Woods, who had hoped to throw him in after he impressed in training in the early part of the week.

Woods said: "Paris is out which is a big blow. He came on late on against Bury after just one day's training and after last weekend's match was postponed, he looked really bright in training.

"But the plans were disrupted when he was ill on Thursday and he's definitely out now after being told he has tonsillitis."

Cowan-Hall's absence means Woods is left with the same squad to pick from that was available in the first game of the year against Bury – plus new signing Fletcher.

And while he was delighted to have landed Premier League man Fletcher, who was on the books at Liverpool as a youngster, there is likely to be more activity before the January transfer window slams shut.

Woods added: "There are a lot of things going on.

"We've spoken to a lot of clubs, a lot of players, and the clubs are very keen to let us have the players.

"We've been close with one or two but they have fallen through with the players themselves changing their minds.

"It's not been a financial thing because we have the backing of the Board.

"Hopefully, though, there is now a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

"You've got to keep trying but you've also got to make sure you don't sign people for the sake of signing them.

"During the transfer window, a lot of players are thrown your way by agents but we have to be careful not to panic and make sure we get the quality we want.

"You can't just keep adding to a big squad."

Meanwhile, Town have handed a trial to Scottish striker Tam McManus.

The 28-year-old Glaswegian who started at Hibernian and also spent time on loan in Lincolnshire at Boston United in 2004, arrived this week as he searches for a new club during the transfer window.

McManus left Derry City and returned to Scotland as a free agent recently and has had a trial with Ayr United – where ex-Town forward Junior Mendes is expected to extend his stay this month..

But Town boss Woods is now offering the former Colorado Rapids player a chance to impress.

Woods said: "Tam has played in America and has been forced to leave Derry City due to financial problems at the club.

"He arrived this week and will be with us again next week on a trial basis."