Discarded Pugh may be set for return to Elland Road

Pugh, who spent two years with Leeds after moving from Manchester United in 2004, was omitted from Stoke’s 25-man squad for the Premier League.

Manager Simon Grayson wants Pugh to fill the hole at left-back or on the left-wing after losing Bradley Johnson in the summer, selling Max Gradel, and allowing Federico Bassone to join Swansea City.

Grayson will also decide today whether to offer former Chelsea and Birmingham City striker Mikael Forssell a short-term deal.

Forsell, 30, is still without a club after leaving German outfit Hannover 96 and spent two weeks training at Thorp Arch last month.

However, the return of Argentinian striker Luciano Becchio for this weekend’s game against Crystal Palace after injury will reduce the pressure on Grayson to bring in a new striker.

Becchio, who has been missing since April with a hamstring injury, staked his claim for a return by scoring in a private friendly against Hull City this week.

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson, meanwhile, has issued a ‘hands-off’ warning to any clubs hoping to loan midfielder Stephen Quinn in the current window.

Blackpool offered £400,000 for Quinn on deadline day but there has also been interest from Leeds, Portsmouth, and Derby County.

“What would be the benefit of us letting Quinny leave on loan?” said Wilson. “I cannot understand for the life of me why anyone would think that’s going to be the case. It’s not even an issue. We will look again at things in the New Year but Stephen is pivotal to what we are aiming to achieve this season.”

The Blades will soon be entering the market for a new striker after selling Jordan Slew and Daniel Bogdanovic last week.

Wilson had lined-up Rangers duo Kyle Hutton and John Fleck to solve the problem but the Blades were unable to process the double deal before last Wednesday’s 11pm deadline.

Middlesbrough centre-back Matthew Bates says he has no desire to leave the club before his contract expires next summer.

Bradford City have allowed on-loan goalkeeper Oscar Jansson to return early to Tottenham Hotspur following the acquisition of Matt Duke.

Jansson, 20, made three appearances for the Bantams but was dropped for last weekend’s fixture against Morecambe. His one-month deal was due to expire after this weekend’s home game with Bristol Rovers.

Manager Phil Parkinson said: “Oscar has been no problems at all and always trained in a professional manner.

“Sadly, we cannot sustain three goalkeepers on our books at the moment.”