Cheltenham Town manager Martin Allen admits the loan signing of striker Leon Constantine is like "playing blind poker."

The 6ft 2ins striker has been brought in for an initial month from Northampton Town as a replacement for Damian Spencer, who was at Brentford yesterday for talks.

At the end of yet another busy week for the Robins, Allen also appointed former Lincoln City boss John Schofield as his assistant manager for the rest of the season.

Schofield, who lost his assistant manager's job at Walsall earlier this term, is being paid on an expenses only basis.

New arrival Constantine was set to be thrown into the squad for today's trip to Huddersfield Town before he has even trained with the Robins.

"We will pick him up on the motorway and chuck him at the back of the bus and see what he can do," Allen said.

"He got a lot of goals at Port Vale, but had a torrid time at Leeds with injuries and he hasn't done great at Northampton either.

"It's a bit like playing blind poker, with your hands behind your back, but he has a scoring record in the past so hopefully he can take some chances and he is a replacement for Damian."

If Paul Connor has recovered from a dead leg, he will start up front with Elvis Hammond, but if Connor fails to make it Constantine is likely to start.

The 31-year-old was plucked from non-league football by Millwall in 2000 and has since played for a long list of clubs, including Southend United and Oldham Athletic, for whom he appeared on loan from Leeds last season.

He scored for Northampton in their 4-2 win over Cheltenham on the opening day of this season.

His most prolific campaign was in 2006-07, when he netted 26 goals for Port Vale in League One, including another against the Robins in a 1-0 win. He also bagged 25 goals for Southend in 2003-04.

"We aren't paying much for him and it's a chance for him to come out and play some football because he hasn't been featuring in Northampton's plans," Allen said. "He has done it in the past, let's hope he can do it again."

Allen insists the club have not given up in their fight against the drop.

"We still have 10 games to go and if we can get six wins and a draw, it'd be happy days I think," Allen said.