Colchester United manager Steve Whitton's attempts to sign two new players ahead of the team's Division Two clash at Millwall have been blocked.

The U's boss was keen to bring in Southampton's David Hirst and Brighton's Andy Arnott on loan before Saturday.

But on Tuesday Whitton received a call from Brighton manager Micky Adams to tell him Arnott had been drafted in to the first team squad for their match on Saturday.

It's a big blow to Whitton who is desperate to add some experience to his side.

He said: "I've got a very young squad and I need to add some older faces. The news on Arnott is difficult to take but its something which happens a lot in football.

"The selling club puts out a circular saying a player is available and when someone comes in for him they suddenly wonder why they are interested and take him off the list."

Whitton is also likely to miss out on Hirst after Southampton chief Dave Jones said he was reluctant to let the former England international join a Second Division club.

Hirst, 31, has fully recovered from a knee injury which kept him out for most of last season and is keen to kick-start his career.

But Jones said on Wednesday: "Steve Whitton has spoken to me a lot about players since he took over at Colchester but I am looking to blood my young players with lower division clubs.

"Hirst can't get into my first team at the moment but he has been working hard to get a place back in the side."

Jones also revealed the player's wages would be a stumbling block.

Clubs who take players on loan must pay the wages for the duration of the spell and Jones added: "While Hirst's money might not be in the top bracket of Premiership players there will still be a gulf between what we are paying and what Colchester could pay him.

"I don't know what Steve's budget is but as everybody knows there is a huge gulf between Premiership and Second Division wages."

Whitton did receive a boost with the news that four first team players have resumed training.

Jason Dozzell, Aaron Skelton, Joe Keith and Brian Launders have all recovered from knocks and are in the frame for a first team place at Saturday's match at the New Den.

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