Lincoln City have beaten the loan deadline to add two new faces to their squad in time for the final League Two run-in.
Midfielder Tom Kilbey and Goalkeeper Elliot Parish have both penned deals with the Imps until the end of the season and could both make their debuts against Rotherham United tomorrow night at Sincil Bank.
Towering central midfielder Kilbey joins the Imps from Championship side Portsmouth, and fills the void left by the injury to Luke Howell earlier in the week.
The 20-year-old has made three substitute appearances for the South Coast outfit this season and scored his first goal for the club in the F.A Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in January.
England Under-20s stopper, Parish, adds welcome goalkeeping options following the news of Trevor Carson’s recall to Sunderland.
Parish (20) is yet to make his senior debut for Premier League side, Aston Villa, but was a part of the Villains impressive academy side that stormed to the Premier Academy League title in 2007/08.
Parish will battle with City veteran, Paul Musselwhite, for the number one jersey for the clash with the Millers on Friday night.
The Imps had been facing a goalkeeping crisis after Trevor Carson was recalled to Sunderland and then subsequently loaned out to League One Brentford straight away, and the club were unable to recall Joe Anyon from his on-going loan spell with Morecambe due to Football League rules.
Both players will be hoping to take their bows against manager-less Rotherham, who are still reeling from the sacking of long serving boss, Ronnie Moore, this week.
The Millers have seen their promotion push stutter in recent weeks after a run of five games without a win which has left them just outside the League Two play-off zone.
United do have prolific marksman, Adam Le Fondre, within their ranks who has netted twenty league goals this season and is among one of the most feared strikers in the division.
The Imps will hope to get back to winning ways after the defeat to Stevenage Town last weekend, but will have to do it without influential duo Luke Howell and Delroy Facey.
Howell looks set to be sidelined for four weeks after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury, and will join captain Facey in the stands who saw his season ended at Macclesfield thanks to a dislocated shoulder.
City also have fitness doubts over top-scorer, Ashley Grimes, and full back Stephen Hunt, but both players are expected to be fit enough to take part in the League Two clash.
