Colin Todd finally got his men today when he snapped up Derby County duo Lee Holmes and Nathan Doyle.

The Rams pair arrive on three month-loan deals to help ease Todd's headache ahead of the kick-off at Nottingham Forest.

The City boss had been frustrated in his desperate search for talent to bolster a paper-thin squad but his hard efforts and persistence have now paid off.

Left winger Holmes and right back/midfielder Doyle will train for the first time tomorrow and come straight into his plans for Saturday's opening League One fixture.

Todd said: "Lee Holmes will give us the natural left-sided wing play that we are looking for.

"He's got real ability and played about 20 games for Derby last season, while when he was at Swindon on loan he did extremely well against us.

"Holmes is the one we've been chasing for a while but Nathan Doyle's got some talent as well and played Championship football in the first team at Derby also."

Lively Holmes shot to fame on Boxing Day 2002 when he became Derby's youngest-ever player, debuting at just 15 years old.

The tricky wideman racked up another accolade two weeks later, becoming the youngest-ever footballer in FA Cup history but struggled to make a regular impact at Pride Park.

However, a loan spell at Swindon in 2004-05 greatly benefited his development. He won England Under-19 honours and was heavily involved at Derby last season, having signed a two-year extension.

County boss Billy Davies is now willing to let Holmes, 19, go out on loan again though and City have seen off plenty of interest to bring him to Valley Parade.

Doyle, also 19, is less experienced having made four Championship appearances for Derby last term before finishing off with 12 games on loan at League Two outfit Notts County.

He provides cover for Todd in defence and midfield though and the City manager is relieved to see his squad strengthened after a poor pre-season highlighted major holes.

He hasn't given up on bringing in Forest left-back Alan Rogers and said: "It's been well documented we've been working over-time to get players in and Alan Rogers is still a goal.

"But with these two new boys plus David Graham and Ben Parker we have made some good recent acquisitions for the football club, which is just what we needed."