PAOLO Di Canio is unlikely to send Billy Bodin out on loan as he looks to keep his available strikers at the club.

The Wales Under 21 international impressed Di Canio in training last week and the Town boss rewarded his efforts by naming him in the starting 11 that faced Crewe on Saturday.

Bodin played a key part in Town’s victory by winning the penalty that put the hosts ahead shortly before half time.

Di Canio had last week said he was considering sending Bodin out on loan to gain experience but has now confirmed that is unlikely, with no new strikers expected to join the club before tomorrow’s trip to Bristol City in the first round of the Carling Cup.

The 43-year-old told the Advertiser: “He has improved in the last week and in the way he played he is clearly getting better. He is young so we still need to work with him.

“But Billy is in a good way now because he has been working with the first team for 40 days now and he did very well during the week.

“He is still young and sometimes switches off and I have to stay behind him like an older brother encouraging him to keep going, but this is my job obviously.”

Di Canio is still looking to bring in a big, physical striker to complete his forward line and recently had Uruguayan forward Nicolas Raimondi on trial.

Raimondi has since returned home and Di Canio is expected to make a decision on him in the next day or two.

Town have been free scoring throughout pre-season and carried that into Saturday’s game against Crewe.

It has been especially pleasing to see goals coming from all over the pitch, with the three against Crewe coming from two defenders and a midfielder.

But while Di Canio is happy other players are taking the pressure off his strikers, he remains determined to bolster his firepower this month.

He said: “When we have scored so many in pre-season and conceded just one and then we go and win 3-0 it is easy to think the team is built but this is not the case because we need another extra player with a different build, different pace and different skill.

“We need the striker and a player who can cover many different positions. I have not reduced my desire for these players because we still need two more.

“Still, the group is fantastic and I can only be happy.”