Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has rubbished reports claiming Dele Adebola has already agreed to join Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Birmingham targetman is out of contract in the summer having turned down City's initial offers of a new deal.

Johnson says Adebola remains in his plans for 2009-10 and will be a key part of the team in the final six games of the season, starting with Saturday's match with Preston North End.

The manager said: "Dele is still talking to us and we are talking to him.

"He is still playing and it is his prerogative. He is over 24 and some players like to leave themselves out of contract until the end of the season.

"The club has done what it can to make him the offers and as long as it is not affecting his game we will see what happens.

"We are still hopeful of keeping him."

It is understood Adebola is keen on a two-year deal with City preferring a 12-month contract for a player who is 34 in June. Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest are also interested.

Adebola looks likely to continue to partner City's top scorer Nicky Maynard against Preston when City return to action after the international break.

Back-up striker Stern John does not return from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago in the USA until late tonight.

So Peter Styvar and Lee Trundle come into the reckoning as possible substitutes.

Left back Jamie McAllister did not feature for Scotland against Iceland on Wednesday but should be back with his club team-mates for today's training session.

"It is not ideal," said Johnson. "Our reserve keeper Stephen Henderson's flight was unable to land at Bristol so he was at Bournemouth airport waiting for a coach to take him back to Bristol after playing for Ireland Under-21s."

But more positively, the two weeks without action has allowed midfield men Gavin Williams and Marvin Elliott to get close to full fitness.

Elliott has played in two reserve games after his groin trouble and impressed in a running test on Wednesday, usually the players' day off.

"They thought when I said they were doing a running test that was an April Fool but they quickly realised it wasn't," said Johnson.

"Marvin is close. He will be in the squad. He has had a couple of reserve games but not quite the 90 minutes. The running tests showed he was nearly there but he just has to get his match sharpness."

Skipper Louis Carey completes a two-game ban for receiving ten bookings.

Meanwhile, under-16s can gain entry for just £1 if accompanied by a paying adult on Saturday as City continue their kid-for-a-quid offer.