Bucks aim to keep Meredith

Monday 5th January 2009, 5:00PM GMT.

Boss Rob Smith is planning to strengthen his injury-hit AFC Telford United squad – with an extended loan deal for full-back James Meredith top of the agenda.

Smith hopes to keep the Shrewsbury Town man until the end of the season, and has his fingers crossed that agreement can be reached in the next 24 hours.

Aussie Meredith has now completed three months on loan with the Bucks, and his performances have also alerted other clubs.

“I honestly don’t think he’s going to go to a pro club and get first team football automatically,” said Smith. “I think he needs to stay here myself, but I would say that, wouldn’t I! He’s done well for us – he had a stinker on New Year’s Day (in the 1-0 defeat to Stafford) but I think his head is spinning a little bit with everything that’s going on.

“People forget he’s a 20-year-old lad who’s not in his own country, and he’s been a bit confused by everything.

“He wants to stay but he’s also got his agent telling him about other clubs. I’m hoping the decision goes our way.”

Smith will also widen his search after suffering more injury setbacks before and during the 1-1 draw at King’s Lynn on Saturday – a game where Andy Brown put them ahead before the hosts levelled late on.

Midfielder Carl Rodgers and striker Terry Fearns (both groin) were unable to start, while defender Indy Khela limped off with a pulled hamstring.

With midfielder Steve Jagielka now ruled out for six weeks due to the medial ligament injury he suffered on New Year’s Day, the squad is severely depleted.

“We need to look at strengthening because we’re down to the bare bones,” said Smith. “We had been hoping to get away with it, but we’ll have to see what there is out there – maybe we can do a loan deal.

“I think that was a decent point,” he added. “Three would have been nice but we’ve reacted well (to the Stafford defeat) and hopefully we can go on a little run – if we’ve got any players left.”