Louis Laing and Stephen McLaughlin's short-term Nottingham Forest could be put in limbo by the Financial Fair Play transfer embargo – which could open the door for Notts County.
Boss Stuart Pearce admits the Reds must give careful consideration to whether they play either man in their first team again this season, as a handful more senior starts would see the players become 'established' professionals and count towards the 24-man squad the Championship club are allowed under the rules.
Laing recently returned to the City Ground following his successful loan spell with the Magpies and Pearce says the defender's performances will be assessed in training, before Forest make a decision over whether to keep him within their ranks or to make him available for loan again.
And the Reds will make a similar decision over winger McLaughlin, now his loan spell at Meadow Lane is ending.
Laing started 12 games for the Magpies and was only on the losing side once, while McLaughlin has started 16 times for Shaun Derry's side, scoring one goal.
Once they make five first team appearances for Forest, they will be regarded as senior members of the squad. Laing, signed in the summer from Sunderland, is yet to start a game for the Reds. But McLaughlin, who signed from Derry City in January 2013, has four starts to his name.
And that is a big factor for Pearce, who said: "It has to be in our minds. We are working under an embargo scenario and we know the situation is that we will be working within the confines of having a 24-man squad.
"We have to keep in mind the prospect of a player coming in to play the odd game here or there – but take up a place in the squad under the embargo or Financial Fair play rules, if they do.
"We will have to keep that in mind as well, when we look at the situation."
Pearce says Forest will monitor Laing's progress in the next few weeks, before coming to a decision over his future.
The defender has been an unused substitute in the last two games with the Championship club.
"He is one of our players and we put him out on loan – he had a very good time at Notts County. They rarely lost when he was playing for them," said Pearce. "We will have a look at the situation.
"The plan was to get him back and have a look at him in training, to decide whether it is feasible for him to stay here or whether it is better for him to go out and get some more football on loan. We will decide that over the next few weeks."
