Derby close on Jamie Ward

by Adam D Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:13 pm

Derby County are close to tying up a deal to sign Sheffield United striker Jamie Ward on a 93-day emergency loan, BBC Radio Derby understands.

The 24-year-old former Chesterfield forward is set to join the Rams on Wednesday in a move that is likely to become permanent in the summer.

Ward is expected to be in the team for Saturday's game at Scunthorpe.

Derby have been desperately trying to bolster their attacking options in recent weeks.

The Rams sold Rob Hulse earlier in the season and also lost Kris Commons in the January transfer window.

And attempts to sign Martyn Waghorn and Conor Sammon in January both failed

But manager Nigel Clough remained eager to sign a pacy frontman to play alongside Steve Davies and sees Ward - who has fallen out of favour at Sheffield United - as the solution.

Birmingham-born Northern Ireland international Ward, who started his career with Aston Villa, joined the Blades from Chesterfield in January 2009 for £333,000.

source - bbc - http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/derby_county/9397838.stm