Saunders moves in for Wigan goalkeeper Kirkland

Kirkland, who has lost his place at Wigan to summer signing Ali Al-Habsi, would replace former Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, now 41, at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Rovers are also in talks with West Ham United striker Freddie Piquionne after completing short term deals for French defender Pascal Chimbonda and West Ham full-back Herita Ilunga.

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson has offered Blackpool winger Matt Phillips a loan move to Bramall Lane.

Phillips, 20, has started only two games for the Seasiders this season and could make his debut in Sunday’s Steel City derby if he accepts the deal.

The Blades have agreed to extend defender Marcus Williams’s loan move from Reading.

Williams has missed the last two games with a dead leg but is expected to return to the side against Sheffield Wednesday.

His initial deal was due to expire after the derby but has now been extended until December 13.

“Everyone has been fantastic since I joined the club and it’s been good to be back out on the pitch,” he said. “The lads have been telling me how massive a game it is (this weekend) and I will have never played in a game as big.

“At Scunthorpe, I played against Doncaster and Hull – but that’s not quite the same.”

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy northern section quarter-final between the Blades and Bradford City has been chosen for live televison coverage by Sky. The game will be played at Bramall Lane on Tuesday, November 8 (7.45pm).

Bradford manager Phil Parkinson has scrapped plans to appeal against the red card issued to defender Andrew Davies during last weekend’s victory over Torquay United.

Davies, who is on loan from Stoke City, was sent off for ‘serious foul play’ after a challenge on Torquay’s Danny Stevens and will miss Bradford’s next three games against Hereford United, Northampton Town and Macclesfield Town.

Hull City striker Martyn Waghorn is set to miss this weekend’s Championship trip to Brighton after suffering a hamstring injury playing for England Under-21s last week.

Waghorn was stretchered off in the Euro qualifier against Iceland but the injury is not as bad as first feared meaning he should definitely be available for the next home game against Watford on October 22.

Rotherham United manager Andy Scott is stepping up his search for loan players after his side suffered a fourth successive defeat last weekend against Burton Albion.