Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has snapped up Reading striker Keith Scott on loan.

But Whitton revealed he will not be adding a new French face to his Layer Road squad in the immediate future.

Experienced goal-getter Scott, 33 - once a huge favourite with the U's arch-rivals Wycombe Wanderers - has agreed to move to Layer Road, initially on a month's loan.

The much-travelled Scott, worth more than £1 million in transfer fees throughout his career, goes straight into the squad for Saturday's Second Division outing to Port Vale.

"Keith's signing gives me a new dimension and more options up front. He's been worth a lot of money in his time and only last season Wycombe sold him to Reading for £250,000.

"He's a goal scorer and a big target man who I know can do a good job for us."

Whitton, meanwhile, watched a match in the north of France last night, but revealed there was "still a lot of work to do" before he was likely to make a signing.

Whitton said: "The game I saw was a French Third Division match."

Reluctant to reveal the player's name, Whitton added: "He is a 25-year-old striker and his agent informs me the lad is very keen to come and play in England."

Injured U's skipper Simon Clark, meanwhile, is progressing slowly towards full fitness again, but is currently rated by Whitton as standing only a 60-40 chance of returning to first team action at Port Vale on Saturday.

There was better news involving injured trio David Gregory, Steve McGavin and Thomas Pinault who all enjoyed a run-out in the U's Reserves 1-1 Avon Insurance Combination draw with Swindon Town at Layer Road yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.

Dean Morgan netted the U's goal.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.