CITY will find out in the next day or so if they have landed Sam Surridge on loan.

Bournemouth and the striker have promised a decision early in the week about where he will be heading next.

Surridge has attracted interest across League One as Cherries boss Eddie Howe looks to bump him up a level after ending a half-season spell with Oldham.

As revealed in the Telegraph & Argus, City have thrown their name in the hat to borrow the lanky frontman.

David Hopkin confirmed their keenness but is understood to have a back-up target lined up if City miss out and will not hang about.

There are suggestions that Surridge will look to stay in the south and Oxford boss Karl Robinson has publicly courted the in-demand frontman.

Hopkin said: “It’s one of these things. I’ve been in touch with Sam’s representatives but obviously he’s got a lot of interest.

“It’s down to where he wants to play. But he’s one of a number of players we’re trying to get in.

“It’s difficult because you are speaking to managers, players and agents now and they might be waiting for other clubs to bring people in.

“We’ve had a lot of players put to us but we need to make sure we get ones who will enhance us and make us a better team.”

City are looking to bolster numbers before the home clash with Southend after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Barnsley left them pinned in the bottom four.

“I think we have to bring somebody in,” added Hopkin, who gave Paudie O’Connor his debut at Oakwell before taking off the Leeds defender at half-time.

“Look at the bench and there was nothing else we could change.

“Maybe fans would wonder why we got rid of Kai Bruenker but he wanted to get back to Germany.

“Jim O’Brien was offered 18 months to go to Notts County, a longer-term deal which gives him security.

“We need to manage people now and make sure we get players in.”

Huddersfield have until tomorrow night to exercise their option to recall City star man Jack Payne.

Team-mate Paul Caddis is keeping his fingers crossed that the midfielder will be going nowhere.

Caddis, who also played with Payne at Blackburn last season, said: “He is a little magician.

“If you have the ball, just give it to him and he will do something. He’s been brilliant since I’ve been at the club.

“He’s so effective for us and is such a popular lad in the dressing room.

“I think it goes a long way that he’s still here two weeks into the window. If I’m being selfish, we all want him to stay.

“He’s happy to be here. He’s never once looked downbeat as if he wants to get away.

“He’s enjoying his football and, me personally, I think he should stay, keep playing and then assess his options at the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, City will allow Shay McCartan to stay at League Two table-toppers Lincoln for the rest of the season. The Irishman scored a superb volley against Swindon at the weekend – the fifth goal of his loan.