ANDY KING remains hopeful of landing his young Tottenham Hotspur loan target but fears that Championship clubs just as keen to borrow his services might yet put a spanner in the works.

Town were today celebrating a place in round two of the Carling Cup and the County Ground boss is keen to discover whether the increasingly agonising Spurs saga will provide him with another reason to smile

A drama that has had more plot twists than EastEnders looked to be heading for a happy ending on Monday but the final act has yet to be performed.

King, who saw captain Matt Hewlett smash home a last-minute Carling Cup winner at Rushden and Diamonds last night, is desperate to bring in a young player from White Hart Lane.

As part of the deal which took Leigh Mills to Tottenham, Spurs are contractually obliged to perform their 'best endeavours' to provide Town with a loan player.

Mark Yeates, Dean Marney and Rohan Ricketts are three of the targets thought to be high on the manager's list.

A cryptic King is still hopeful that the mystery man in question will report for training at Wanborough tomorrow but he's far from counting on it.

He said: "It's certainly anything but a foregone conclusion.

"There will be more rumblings and discussions before this deal takes place because I understand now that there are Championship clubs after him.

"Obviously the boy's choice is going to be that level.

"All I'm saying is that we have a contract commitment.

"If they loan him out to other clubs I'm not sure that's fair.

"I say I think there'll be more rumblings over this but I hope not. I hope the player I want comes in on Thursday.

"You will know who is. You will have heard of him."

As for the small matter of tonight's Carling Cup second round draw, King said: "We all have our favourites and the teams we'd like to play. Everton away for me."

Skipper Hewlett hopes Town will land themselves a glamour tie in the draw but he also points out that a chance to progress is not to be sniffed at either.

He said: "It would be nice for us and the fans to have a big team at the County Ground.

"If you don't get a big team then you still have to be positive and see it as a chance to progress further.

"Even though we have a small squad and can't afford injuries, it's always nice to have a cup run.

"It's a little bit special and does give you the chance to test yourself against better players.

"Still, we'll just have to wait and see."