GARY Bowyer admits the market for strikers has been tough to crack but believes Aramide Oteh can plug the gap left by Eoin Doyle’s exit.

The QPR frontman is training for the first time with the full City squad today after completing his deadline-day loan move.

Bowyer was keen to find cover for James Vaughan and Clayton Donaldson and reckons Oteh, who is 21 on Tuesday, fits the bill.

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He said: "They will tell you they want to (play) if they are fit, it is simple as that. As long as they are doing the business.

“But it is important we brought somebody else up there as well.

“I think strikers have been hard to bring in this summer - speak to managers up and down the country. We are happy with what we have got, for sure.

"I think it is important when you get a loan in, to get someone with experience of already being out on loan.

“We probably did not envisage Doyle going. We had to go and find somebody and we think we have got the right one in.”

Oteh, who made his senior debut in December 2017, was a team-mate of Zeli Ismail at Walsall last season. He played 13 times after joining the Saddlers on a temporary move in January with four starts and one goal.

“He can play out wide, but he is a natural centre-forward and that is where we see him,” added Bowyer.

“He is going to learn loads from Clayton and Vaughany and it is a loan move which suits both parties. But we expect him to make a massive contribution.

"Gary Jenkins, who is doing a load of work for us scouting games, took him to Walsall and we were aware he might be available and continued to monitor him.

“He scores goals and has proved he can do it in (QPR) under-23s. Now it is the big step into men’s football again.”

Wimbledon winger Dylan Connolly was rushed through right on the deadline to bring City’s tally to 15 recruits in the summer window. Bowyer felt the various cut-off points for different leagues has complicated matters.

The City boss said: “Even when it was 5pm, we got a call from a Scottish club asking and you think, ‘it’s closed’.

“But then they say, ‘no, ours is open until midnight.’ Then I read that the Premier boys were on about European markets.

“There has got to be a simpler way of saying, 'right, let's bring everybody into line and say it shuts then.' Why they can't do that, I don't know.”

Bowyer was impressed with how quickly Connolly agreed the deal when City registered their interest late on.

"It was one which came out of the blue late in the day, to be honest. We were aware of him and knew what he was like with pace and power and he goes past people.

“The lad was great and straightaway was off the phone and on his way down to Wimbledon to get all his paperwork and stuff. He wanted to come and play football and we are delighted we have got him in the building.

"Credit to everybody, the staff and Julian (Rhodes) have been magnificent with what they have done for us this year.

“(Club secretary) Mark Harrison and (director of communications) Ryan (Sparks), who was a substitute secretary one week, and the hours they work and why they go about it have been fantastic as it is not easy.

“Now we have to get everybody up to speed as quickly as we can without losing anyone to injury.

“It is a bedding-in period and we have got to go with what we have got now and have a right good go with this league.

“We have got to stick together and work very hard to try and get three points on Saturday.”