BRISTOL City boss Derek McInnes confirmed he is scouring the loan market in search of a short-term replacement for Nicky Maynard.

City’s eight-goal top-scorer completed a £2 million move to Championship leaders West Ham United just minutes before the January transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday, leaving McInnes with just three fit strikers to choose from.

Speaking for the first time since Maynard’s departure, the Scot told the Evening Post he will seek to bring in another forward when the window for loan signings reopens next Wednesday.

Injuries sustained by David Clarkson and Ryan Taylor mean McInnes’s attacking options are limited to Chris Wood, Jon Stead and Brett Pitman. With 18 Championship games still to go and City engaged in a fight against relegation, the manager would prefer to have four strikers available.

He confirmed: “I think we’re a wee bit short up front and I’m certainly considering bringing another forward in now that Nicky has gone.

“David Clarkson is out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle and Ryan Taylor is still having problems with his injury. It would be asking a lot to expect Ryan to come back after months out and go straight back into the fold of Championship football.

“That leaves us with three strikers and, ideally, I would like to get one more in. It may not be the case that we bring someone in immediately but, when there are 18 games left, it is something we have to be aware of.”

Although McInnes was disappointed to see Maynard leave before Tuesday’s transfer deadline, he was not surprised. He said: “I always thought the option of Nicky furthering his career with someone else was a real possibility.”

Eager to draw a line under what had become a long-running saga, McInnes expressed relief that the matter had finally been resolved. He explained: “Nicky had a lot hanging over him and it was not all totally his doing.

“At times it was very difficult for him and, as a manager, you don’t like to see any player suffering the way he did. At the same time, it was a very difficult situation. Now it has been resolved, we can draw a line under it and move on.”

He added: “From a football point of view, I would much rather have Nicky here, but it is important to understand the club’s eagerness to do a deal. It was a good bit of business for the club.”

Although a section of City fans turned against Maynard after he refused to sign a new contract and was transfer-listed in December, McInnes has only good things to say about the 25-year-old forward.

He said: “For the record, I would like to thank him for the work he did for me. I know it was short-lived, but I could clearly see the talent he possessed. He was someone I really enjoyed working with and I can only thank him for his efforts.

“He was an important player for us. I would like to think we won’t miss him, but it remains to be seen if that is the case. His goals and his ability will serve West Ham well but, in an ideal world, he would still be with us. Unfortunately, that is not the case, but I have nothing but good wishes for him. I hope he plays and does well at West Ham.”

On the plus side for City’s manager, centre-back Liam Fontaine and midfielder Marvin Elliott have recovered from knee and hamstring injuries respectively. Both trained yesterday and are available for selection.

But skipper Louis Carey will miss the game through suspension after City decided against appealing the red card he was shown during last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Reading.

Owing to the continuing cold weather, City groundsman Craig Richardson has taken the precaution of covering the Ashton Gate pitch and bringing in hot air blowers to ensure tomorrow’s game goes ahead.