Manchester United starlet Daniel Nardiello has turned down the chance to join Darlington on loan in favour of a move to Third Division rivals Swansea City.

Quakers boss Mick Tait last night revealed the 21-year-old striker, who has already scored 12 goals for United's reserves this season, was close to making the temporary move to the North-Eastuntil Swansea made a last-minute move for his services.

It appears Coventry-born Nardiello's Welsh connections may have been the deciding factor behind his month-long move to the Vetch Field.

Nardiello's father, Donato, played for Wales in the 70s and is a close friend of Swans boss Brian Flynn.

Swansea have also completed the loan signing of Nardiello's United teammate Alan Tate. Tate, born in Murton, was on loan at Swansea last season and ended up in goal after keeper Rodger Freestone was sent-off at Hartlepool.

"We were very close to signing him on Friday morning but he decided to go to another club," said Tait. "He would have been an ideal signing and that's why we went for him but that's the way it goes."

Tait also revealed the club made inquiries for a second player but were forced to pull out after discovering the unnamed forward would command a transfer fee.

Tait is desperate to bolster his attacking options, especially with last season's top scorer Barry Conlon out until December.

While fans will no doubt share the same frustration as Tait, the boss insists he won't be rushed into making any rash moves, despite his latest setback.

"We keep looking around for better than we've got," said Tait.

"We don't want to bring somebody in that's just the same as what we've got. We want someone who would be better and Nardiello would have been better.

"You make inquiries but the good players are not available. If people prefer to go elsewhere then that's all there is to it."

Tait has vowed to continue his search for new blood but admitted any hopes of landing players who will improve the squad will inevitably come at a price.

"We're always looking for quality but you find in most cases that their wages are far too high," concedes Tait.

"I have no doubt Nardiello would have been a quality signing because he's a proven goalscorer."

This afternoon Tait has four strikers to choose from for the visit of fellow strugglers, Bury.

Mark Sheeran, Ian Clark, Matt Clarke and the returning Danny Mellanby will all contest the two starting berths in attack.

Providing Mellanby, back in the reckoning following a back injury, is fit enough, he could well partner Matt Clarke up front as Quakers bid to avoid a fifth consecutive League defeat.

Striker Glen Robson remains sidelined with a hamstring injury while midfielder Neil Maddison misses out with a thigh strain.

Clark and Gary Pearson have been suffering from flu this week but the pair will be included in Tait's threadbare squad.

Quakers return to the Reynolds Arena following defeats at Yeovil and Cheltenham in the last seven days. And against the Shakers, who are experiencing their own problems, with just one win from their last four, Tait has called on his players to give a positive account of themselves.

"We've got to be solid, not give anything away and not be left chasing the game," said Tait. "We need to get back on track again and this is a game we've got to win.

"The lads are OK because they know they've played well in their last two games apart from the result. We're not going to make any excuses. We've just got to get out on the pitch and get it right."

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