Tudgay ends Hill’s hunt for new Tykes striker

Barnsley have signed former Sheffield Wednesday forward Marcus Tudgay – bringing an end to their lengthy search for a loan striker.

The 29-year-old has joined the Tykes from Nottingham Forest initially until January 3 with a view to a permanent deal.

Tudgay, fully recovered following double hernia surgery, is desperate for some regular Championship football after making just two appearances for Forest so far this term.

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Oakwell manager Keith Hill is just hopeful Tudgay can boost the Reds’ goal-shy attack in the absence of the badly-missed Craig Davies.

Hill has been searching for a new frontman to bolster his strikeforce for several weeks, having missed out on several targets, including Reading’s Simon Church, who opted to join near-neighbours Huddersfield Town instead, making his debut for the Terriers at Oakwell last Saturday.

Tudgay, who is set to make his debut at Bolton on Saturday, is down the pecking order at the City Ground – behind the likes of Simon Cox and Billy Sharp – and is out of contract in the summer.

His only Championship appearance of the season came as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Huddersfield at the start of the campaign, with his only other outing coming as a substitute in the Capital One Cup trip to Fleetwood Town on August 13.

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In total, he has sampled 24 minutes of competitive football this term. The hard-working forward has not yet been offered fresh terms for a new contract at the City Ground and could potentially play his way into earning a long-term Oakwell deal if he impresses.

Other than top-scorer Davies, who has missed the Reds’ last four matches with a hamstring injury, Barnsley’s other strikers have found goals desperately hard to come by so far this term.

Marlon Harewood, Mido, Chris Dagnall and Danny Rose have found the net just once between them so far in the Championship in 2012-13, with Harewood – a former team-mate of Tudgay’s at Forest – netting against the East Midlanders in a 4-1 home reverse on October 27.

On Tudgay’s move, Forest chief Sean O’Driscoll said: “Marcus is an excellent professional and great to have around the place.

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“But understandably he wants to be playing on a regular basis and that’s something we cannot guarantee him. I’m sure it will be successful.”

Doncaster Rovers midfielder Sammy Clingan has said he would consider extending his deal.

The ex-Coventry player said: “The deal is only until the end of December at the moment, but I’m enjoying it and maybe it could be extended.”