NEWPORT County AFC manager John Sheridan has revealed how his plans to sign a striker before Saturday’s clash with Yeovil Town fell apart at the last minute.

The Exiles boss says he had all but signed and sealed the capture of a free agent front man on a short-term contract this week before the deal collapsed.

Sheridan is hoping to sign a goal scorer as cover for Zak Ansah – who will return to his parent club Charlton Athletic after the game at Notts County on December 12.

Ansah would not be able to return to Rodney Parade until January because of the way the loan rules work.

But the search for a replacement goes on and Sheridan says he may be forced to move into the loan market again before the emergency loan window closes next Thursday.

“I’ve been trying to bring someone in and I was hoping he would have been here for the weekend but unfortunately he’s let us down big time,” said Sheridan.

“It was all done and dusted but he’s let us down big time.

“It was a striker and I think it’s important that we’re covered for when Zak Ansah goes back after the Notts County game.

“He’ll miss four or five games [before January] so I think it’s important that I have someone in that forward area to make sure we’re covered when he’s gone.

“It’s a big period over Christmas with games coming thick and fast and it’s important that we have the cover there.

“This was going to be a short contract not a loan. Obviously I’ve got all my loans in at the moment.

“But, at the same time, Zak’s going so it will free-up a loan.

“I don’t like bringing in loan players and not playing them,” he added.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing for me to do and I don’t think it’s good for the player coming because they’re expecting to play and obviously I can only use five on a match day.

“But I’ll look at it and if it has to be a loan it’ll be a loan but I would personally think it would benefit us if I could bring in a free agent because then it would leave us the option of bringing in another one on loan.”

Ansah is available to face Yeovil having missed Tuesday's FA Cup replay win over Brackley Town.

Defender Scott Barrow should also be able to return after recovering from a toe injury and midfielder Tommy O'Sullivan is back from Wales under-21s duty but Nathan Ralph is likely to be out with concussion after taking a bang in training.