Owls weigh up strike options while waiting for news on injured Mellor

Mellor, the club's leading marksman with 12 goals, was stretchered off after twisting his ankle during the club's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Carlisle United on Tuesday night.

If the injury is serious, it will be a major blow for the Owls who allowed striker Marcus Tudgay to leave the club last week.

Multi-millionaire Milan Mandaric is buying the club and is expected to provide money for new players – but the Football League's transfer window has now shut.

Irvine would have to make do with his existing options – Clinton Morrison, Paul Heffernan, and winger Jermaine Johnson – until the window opens again on January 1.

The Owls have six league games to play between now and then and need to keep picking up points to maintain a challenge for automatic promotion back to the Championship.

Mellor, who is on loan from Preston North End, was unable to travel to Sheffield yesterday due to the weather conditions. He will be assessed by Preston's medical staff instead.

Irvine said: "We certainly wouldn't want Neil to be missing for long because he has been playing very well and scoring a lot of goals.

"We initially thought it might have been something very serious but are happier now because he has been able to put his weight on it."

Mellor twisted his ankle in a challenge with Carlisle defender Lubo Michalik but Irvine says the pitch – which was firm and covered in a dusting of snow – may also have contributed to the injury.

"The pitch was playable but not easy to play on," he said. "It might have played a part but it may also have been the challenge."

The Owls had won six consecutive games before the Carlisle defeat and will be seeking a return to winning ways at Swindon Town on Saturday.

"Obviously, the league is our priority," said Irvine. "But that doesn't mean I didn't want to get to Wembley in the JP Trophy.

"It was a disappointing performance. The conditions were difficult which affects the way you play and means it is important to take away the risk element.

"Both teams did that but Carlisle did it better than us."

Winger Gary Teale missed Tuesday night's game due to a calf strain, but has not been ruled out of a return on Saturday.

Sheffield United defender Stephen Jordan, meanwhile, is out for six weeks after damaging his ankle ligaments at the weekend against Bristol City.

Manager Gary Speed is likely to choose either Andy Taylor or loan signing Daniel Batth to fill the gap left by Jordan's injury this weekend against Reading.

Leeds United have terminated the contract of winger Andy Robinson by mutual consent.

Robinson, who quit Swansea City to join Leeds two summers ago, has not started a league game for the club in 18 months. He spent the end of last season on loan at Tranmere Rovers.

On-loan left-back George McCartney has extended his stay from Sunderland into a third month and will remain at Elland Road until the end of 2010.