LINCOLN CITY will have Premier League managers' numbers on speed-dial this Wednesday when the loan window re-opens.

Top-flight teams named their 25-man squads on Tuesday, which means a number of players will be left out in the cold until the next transfer window opens in January, when bosses can modify their line-ups.

That has put the Imps on red-alert and they look set to scour the top divisions for talent as unwanted players filter down the leagues

City's assistant manager Ian Pearce confessed the club had targets and manager Chris Sutton has recently expressed a desire to bring back Fulham's Matt Saunders and Aston Villa duo Chris Herd and Nathan Baker to Sincil Bank.

That trio did not need to be named in their respective clubs' final squads as they are 21 or under, but none of them seem likely to be make the breakthrough to the Fulham or Villa first teams in the immediate future. In Herd's case, he will be out with injury for the next two months.

"We are fully aware of the players that have not been named in their clubs' squads," said Pearce.

"The 25-man rule makes it slightly easier for us as I know for a fact that the players left out are not going to be happy playing reserve team football.

"We have targets but it's all a matter of whether or not the player wants to come or their manager will agree to let them leave at that particular moment.

"The manager is in constant contact with the chairman Bob Dorrian and the board.

"We have got good contacts and we will be looking for people to help us out."

Pearce played in the Premier League himself and leapt to the defence of players who look set for a spell on the sidelines, having not been picked.

Certain players are content to sit on their lucrative contracts, but the former Blackburn defender believes the lure of first-team football will tempt the majority to make the move to the lower leagues.