GARY Bowyer will sit down with chief executive Julian Rhodes today to hammer out City’s masterplan for Eoin Doyle.

The recall clause in the striker’s season-long loan at Swindon can be triggered this week.

Bowyer is still giving nothing away about the club’s intentions but it would be very surprising if they did not opt to bring back the 23-goal hitman, who was not allowed to feature in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the County Ground.

Swindon boss Richie Wellens wants to hang on to Doyle but insisted after the game that he will “respect” City’s decision.

And Bowyer hopes to be in position to give a definitive answer as quickly as possible.

He said: “I’ve been in conversation with Julian all along and we said we’d get through the game first.

“We’ve got a meeting scheduled and I’m sure it will all get resolved from there. It needs settling for the sake of everybody.

“The lad wants to play football, as simple as that, so we’ll pick it up this week and see where we go.”

Doyle stayed away from City’s draw with the leaders but was the subject of plenty of chants between the two sets of fans.

Bowyer added: “It was entertaining, wasn’t it? But (to score) 23 goals is impressive.”

City scorer Shay McCartan can appreciate the dilemma Doyle is facing after spending the whole of last season on loan at Lincoln, where he won the League Two title.

McCartan said of his fellow Irishman: “It’s hard and shows his character to go on loan and do what he has.

“I know Doyler as a person and he’s a great lad. He’s a real goal-scorer and will be a bonus for whichever team he’s at.

“None of us know what’s happening with him but he’s put himself in this position because he’s a great professional.

“If he comes back, I’m sure he’ll continue the run of goals.”

City’s fightback against Swindon kept them within six points of the League Two summit in fourth spot.

McCartan, whose previous goal this season was the Valley Parade winner over the leaders in October, produced a stunning free-kick two minutes from time.

He said: “It was in my range and I was just focused on getting it up and down.

“I have confidence in my own ability and I knew it was perfect range. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was going in.

“The gaffer has put me in there in training and I’ve done it a few times now. It was just a matter of bringing it out on the pitch.”

Bowyer has given City an extra day off today after they finished a hectic period of five games in a fortnight by stretching their unbeaten run to eight.

McCartan believes the result - a fourth draw in a row on the road - will only increase confidence within the squad as they look forward to a free week before another lengthy away trip to 16th-placed Crawley.

“There were a few lads down on the ground at the final whistle disappointed we didn’t get all three points,” he added. “That shows the manner of the squad.

“But when we look back today and tomorrow, we’ll realise it was a fantastic point.

“It kept the unbeaten run going and we’ll hopefully carry that on through the new year.”