Heat's on as Jamal joins

The 24-year-old's transfer from Southend United beat the deadline on Friday by a couple of hours.

The fee for the former Chesterfield and Rotherham United player is thought to be 175,000.

Manager Simon Davey said: "We've been tracking Jamal for six to eight weeks now. We put a bid in and it was turned down and we finally got a bid agreed. It was late.

"He's a powerful pacy winger. He will add to the department in the wide areas.

"We've got Martin Devaney who is injured at the moment and we've got Rohan Ricketts who is a different type of wide player. Jamal has got more pace and we needed that."

Southend turned down a 250,000 offer from Barnsley weeks ago but, with the deadline for transfers fast approaching, accepted a reduced fee.

The deal came too late for the Jamaican international to play against West Brom on Saturday. Ricketts was on the bench for that game and came on and went into midfield when striker Istvan Ferenczi went off early in the second half with an ankle injury.

After the defeat Davey commented: "We went out for the second half and the players stepped up to the plate.

"We restricted their chances and we created a little bit more for ourselves and passed the ball better but we lost the game.

"We'll analyse that now and make sure we move on from this."

Barnsley striker Michael Coulson, who played in the Carling Cup tie at Newcastle last week, is expected to make his debut for Northwich Victoria tomorrow against Burton in the Blue Square Premier League.

The 20-year-old has joined the Cheshire club, currently managed by former Barnsley skipper Neil Redfearn, on loan for a month.

Meanwhile,

manager Mark Robins expects his Rotherham United side to quickly shake off the "sluggish" tag he dubbed them with after the home draw with Chester City.

"Sometimes, at the end of a busy schedule, you come out of it and feel a little bit drained, it happens," he said.

"I know, I've played the game and sometimes it happens like that.

"We had worked really hard in the week, getting ready for three games in eight days, starting with the Chester one. We were sluggish but that's how it can go.

"It's just the energy levels and we are trying to get the balance right between getting them really motoring and really fit and giving them just enough rest so that they are not tired."