Soccer gossip: Leeds, Owls, Doncaster, Rotherham

The Scot was carried off amid worrying scenes early on in Saturday’s 2-1 reverse in south Wales and is expected to be on the sidelines for several weeks with last season’s top-scorer to undergo scans this week.

His absence will leave United seriously short of options in attack, with Warnock keen to raid the emergency loan market.

On whether he will be handed the funds to replace McCormack, Warnock - whose side host in-form Hull City in an Elland Road derby tomorrow evening. added: “That I don’t know, but I’ll be asking the question, obviously.

“We could do with another loan player now because of the injuries we have got and the number of games coming up. We know we’re a thin squad and I knew that if we got two or three injuries – which we have – it would put a lot of pressure on us.”

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday boss Dave Jones has hinted that the Owls could extend the loan of Everton teen starlet Ross Barkley, who joined the club on a month’s loan on Thursday.

Barkley, 18, impressed after coming on as second-half sub at Brighton, with his performance in midfield one of the few redeeming features for the Owls and he is set to be handed his home debut in Wednesday’s derby with Huddersfield Town.

Jones said: “It’s an academy loan. It has to be month-to-month. We’ll see how it goes. He’s with us for a month. Then we’ll assess it and see whether he stays longer. That will also be down to Everton.”

Jones’ counterpart Simon Grayson has revealed he is confident of extending the loan of Wolves midfielder Adam Hammill in January after the Scouser impressed on his home bow against Derby on Saturday, setting up the only goal of the game for Danny Ward after just 47 seconds.

On his room for maneouvre to extend Hammill’s deal, Grayson said: “I would have thought there’s a possibility. I think he’s probably surplus to requirements at Wolves, but you never know. We have not got a deal in place.

“We’ll see where we go with that in January. He was delighted to come here and we were delighted to get him and hopefully he can keep contributing on a weekly basis now.”

Doncaster boss Dean Saunders is likely to look to bring in a replacement keeper on loan this week.

Veteran No 2 Neil Sullivan, who sat out the club’s pre-season campaign with leg and hand problems, faces several weeks on the sidelines after picking up a calf injury during the warm-up in Saturday’s 2-1 League One win at Colchester United.

Saunders’ only cover for Gary Woods is last season’s youth team keeper Jon Maxted.

Saunders will be checking on striker Billy Paynter today ahead of tomorrow’s South Yorkshire derby at Bramall Lane.

Rotherham United chief Steve Evans says he will be seeking resurrances from midfielder David Noble regarding his commitment to the club after his absence from the side that beat Torquay 1-0 on Saturday in League Two.

Rumours have circulated that he and the player had an alleged bust-up in a team meeting the day after the recent 6-2 drubbing at Port Vale.

On the subject of Noble, Evans, who served the first game of his six-match stadium ban at the weekend, watching the game via a live feed sent through to his laptop at home, said: “He was laid low with a virus, but I would not have included him regardless.

“I need to hear that he wants to be at this club.

“I love the lad, but will only have dedicated and motivated players who want to be part of what we have here.”