MARK YEATES' stay at the County Ground was due to be finalised today with Andy King anxious to seal a loan deal without making any guarantees over selection.

The 19-year-old and his Tottenham Hotspur employers are adamant that a month in Wiltshire should be spent on the pitch rather than the bench.

King is very happy to have Yeates on board, but he is not in the business of making selection promises.

Yeates is in the Sammy Igoe/Brian Howard mould and on top of that, King is faced with having to axe someone from a winning side to accommodate the Spurs man.

Still, the Town boss is delighted that the Republic of Ireland Under 21 international has landed part of the deal which saw defender Leigh Mills join Spurs.

King said: "He is a wonderful young talent, a beautiful footballer.

"How I'm going to fit him into my side is another matter. That's my decision to be made over the weekend.

"But I couldn't turn down a wonderful young talent like him, and he will be an asset.

"Whether he is an asset from the off, I don't know.

"Tottenham want him to play. It's just I've a lot of good footballers here.

"It has to be coupled with endeavour, commitment, all the ingredients that make a team, but I'm pleased to have him here."

King wants to utilise the youngster's skills but he insists there has to be a degree of managerial discretion.

He said: "Tottenham are telling me the boy has to play in my first team.

"I'm telling them they can't make that demand. I can't take a player on that basis.

"I can understand it, though, because they want the player to play games and get experience."

If Yeates is thrown straight in against Hartlepool, someone else will have to drop out and King said: "We've been three games without defeat and it's difficult to change the side."

The manager has been able to point out to Yeates that a loan spell at the County Ground has hardly damaged other Tottenham players' careers.

He said: "I told young Mark that Johnnie Jackson couldn't get in our team and then went back to play in Tottenham's first team.

"But he's here and will be used. If I can get him in the first game then fine, but after that it will be based on performances."

Stefani Miglioranzi, meanwhile, is doubtful with a groin injury and Andy Gurney is still troubled by a back injury, but should play.

Town have progressed to the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy after being handed a bye.

The Carling Cup tie at Leeds United will take place on Tuesday September 21 (7.45pm).