Barnet are very close to signing a striker on loan, according to Bees head coach Martin Allen, after Sam Hoskins returned to Yeovil Town this week.

Hoskins’ loan at Barnet was ended on Monday, just two days after Allen had told the Times Series that the striker would remain at The Hive for an additional month.

With Charlie MacDonald still not ready for a return to the first team as he continues to recover from a knee injury, it leaves only John Akinde and Jon Nurse as the club’s available senior strikers.

But this is something Allen is expecting to change.

“I am looking. It (a loan deal) is very close,” the Bees head coach said on Tuesday night.

“I have been at several games over the last couple of weeks and we have to keep improving and trying to make ourselves better.

“I’ve been to a lot of matches recently and have been making a lot of telephone calls because we need to improve our team.

“This week we should get something done and another new player will come in.”

At the weekend, Allen hoped MacDonald would be fit for Tuesday’s FA Cup replay against Chelmsford City.

He didn’t play and the 33-year-old wasn’t missed as the Bees completed a 4-1 win to set up a first round proper tie with Wycombe Wanderers.

Allen ruled out the Bees captain returning for Saturday’s Conference trip to Welling United but did reveal the striker will return to training on Thursday.

“Charlie MacDonald should be joining the squad soon, he’ll be coming back in. He is quite a good player,” Allen said with a smile.

“We’ve missed him for the six weeks he has been out. He’s not only been our captain but he has been a catalyst figure on the training pitch. It will be good to have him back.

“Saturday will be too early for him though. He will be with us again on Thursday but there is no rush to get him back.

“We will be signing another striker and that will strengthen us. The chairman has given us his backing again, which is important.”