Transfer listed defender Gavin Hoyte will not be allowed to leave Barnet yet because of injury to Bira Dembele, Martin Allen has confirmed, whilst the Bees boss will not sign defensive cover on loan.

The 25-year-old was made available for loan and transfer a fortnight ago and was not included in the matchday 18 which beat Exeter City 2-0 at the end of October – the first game after being listed.

However, the Trinidad and Tobago international was reinstated to the squad for Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup win over League One side Blackpool and came on as a second-half substitute in place of the impressive Sam Muggleton.

Speaking afterwards, head coach Allen confirmed there had been no enquiries for the former Arsenal youngster yet but revealed he would not be letting the summer signing leave whilst Dembele was ruled out.

“We’ll have to wait and see. Bira (Dembele) is injured at the moment, so he can’t go out anyway,” explained Allen.

Asked if he would sign anyone on loan in order to cover Dembele, who is expected to be sidelined for up to five weeks with a knee problem, Allen replied: “No, no-one else will come in.

“I’ve also got a young player here called Hakeem Odoffin. You wait until you see him play. Oh my God, you just wait until you see that kid play,” enthused Allen.

The full-back has twice been an unused substitute for League Two fixtures this season but Allen expects the 17-year-old former Reading prodigy to make his first team breakthrough in the near future.

He continued: “You will get the chance to see him play soon. It won’t be for long because he won’t be playing at Barnet for long because he will be a top player and he’s probably unfortunate he’s not in our team now.

“I knew a little bit about him but he’s been training with us for the past few weeks and he’s a fantastic young player.”