BRISTOL City's prospects of strengthening their injury-ravaged squad ahead of Saturday's home npower Championship clash with Barnsley are receding.

New manager Keith Millen has made no secret of his desire to bring in "two or three" new faces this week.

And City have renewed their interest in former targets Jon Stead and Jay Simpson in a quest to bolster an attack that has been hit hard by injuries to Nicky Maynard, Danny Haynes and Sam Vokes.

But Arsenal youngster Simpson, 21, now looks certain to join Championship rivals Hull City, while Millen is still awaiting a response from Stead's agent.

He confirmed: "I was hopeful of signing two or three players this week, but the situation seems to change with every phone call.

"We're working hard behind the scenes to bring about a couple of deals that have been on-going for a while, but it is difficult.

"I'm still hopeful of bringing in one new face before the weekend, but not the two or three I wanted."

City have also been linked with unsettled Derby County hit-man Luke Varney and Wycombe Wanderers prospect Matt Phillips, while Millen remains in the market for a left-sided player. Stead and Simpson remain top of Millen's wanted list and the new boss, who succeeded Steve Coppell last week, is working hard to revive deals that had collapsed earlier in the summer.

Ipswich accepted a bid of around £250,000 from City for Stead in July and the former Blackburn and Sunderland raider held talks with Coppell and chief executive Colin Sexstone.

Despite the two clubs having agreed a fee, Stead's wage demands proved a stumbling block and he turned down the chance to join City, instead travelling north for talks with Blackpool boss Ian Holloway.

Unable to agree a move to Bloomfield Road either, Stead was handed an unexpected opportunity to lead Ipswich boss Roy Keane's attack when Connor Wickham suffered a serious injury on the eve of the season.

Although he has featured in all three of the Tractor Boys' fixtures so far this season, the 27-year-old forward remains on the transfer list.

As revealed in the Post, City made an approach for former England youth international Simpson last month, only for talks to stall over money.

But Simpson is currently engaged in talks with Hull and is expected to complete a permanent move from the Emirates to the KC Stadium any day now.

Although City's offer remains on the table and Millen is keen to keep lines of communication open between Bristol and north London, Simpson appears to prefer the prospect of a future on Humberside.

Millen is working his way down a long list of targets, which also includes former Charlton Athletic forward Luke Varney and Wycombe youngster Matt Phillips.

Varney has dropped down the pecking order at Derby and is available for loan, while Wycombe are sure to want a substantial cash sum for 19-year-old attacking midfielder Phillips, who has scored eight times in 37 appearances for the League Two club.

Although Millen has two weeks before the transfer window closes, he would prefer to bolster his squad ahead of Saturday's clash with Barnsley.

Availability and cost are likely to be paramount in determining which of his targets, if any, end up at Ashton Gate.