More loan deals suit needs of McCall

The City chief returns to his office this week after a fortnight’s break to step up his team-building plans.

McCall’s options remain limited unless he manages to shift the club’s biggest earners but he is certain to utilise the temporary market again.

McCall, like many League Two bosses, has relied heavily on loan players – and would love to bring some back to Valley Parade on a permanent basis.

Dean Furman, Nicky Law and Steve Jones are all on his dream shopping list after last season’s successful spells. Zesh Rehman is also considering a deal following his four-month stint from QPR.

McCall refutes the idea that long-term loan recruits do not share the same passion for the team as someone there on a full-time deal.

“It’s getting more common in our division for players to get one-year contracts, so to bring someone in for a season-long loan is no different,” he said.

“The argument that they wouldn’t have the same feeling for the club doesn’t hold up.

“The striker Chris Martin went from Norwich to Luton for the whole of last season and did really well.

“We got the same with Deano (Dean Furman). You couldn’t say he tried any less just because he was on loan.

“Sometimes these players don’t want to go back to playing reserve-team football again. You give them that sense of belonging and feeling part of it and they really respond.”

But City will have to be patient with their loan targets, as most are not made available until well into pre-season.

“People get the players back, have a look for two or three weeks and then decide if they are ready to go out,” said McCall.

“Premier League and Championship clubs want their kids to go out if they aren’t playing and get some experience.

“Manchester United probably let out at least seven or eight players on loan since Christmas and Liverpool as well, although not as many.

“That’s the way football is going, though it makes it tough for players at the lower levels who may have to be filtered out to non-league clubs.”