WANDERERS have abandoned plans to buy on-loan Steve Jones from Bristol City after the striker broke his foot during Saturday's goalless stalemate at Brentford.

WANDERERS have abandoned plans to buy on-loan Steve Jones from Bristol City after the striker broke his foot during Saturday's goalless stalemate at Brentford.

The former West Ham and Charlton hitman was in the middle of a three-month trial at Adams Park with a view to a permanent £100,000 move when disaster struck at Griffin Park.

X-rays revealed a broken bone in his right foot and he will be out for three months.

Wanderers are already without last season's top scorer Sean Devine, until Christmas and boss Lawrie Sanchez has decided he can't wait for Jones and is hunting other strikers.

Jones will stay at Wycombe until his loan expires next month before being sent back to Bristol to complete his rehabilitation and fight for a place in City's side.

He said: 'I'm gutted but I understand the manager's decision. He can hardly go and spend £100,000 on someone with a broken foot. It would be ridiculous.'

But the 30-year-old, who wants away from Bristol after becoming a target for the boo-boys, is still hoping he will end up at Wycombe.

He said: 'Hopefully when I get back to Bristol I can get fit and Wycombe will think again.'

Jones didn't score for Wanderers but his bustling aggressive style made him a favourite with the fans.

Sanchez said: 'We're back to square one looking around for another striker. We are going to have to see if we can loan, beg or steal someone.

'I'm disappointed and Steve is very disappointed. He didn't manage to score any goals for us but his form has been one of the main reasons why we are third in the table.'

Blues were impotent without him when he went off after 25 minutes at Brentford, a fact recognised by Sanchez.

He said: 'Danny Senda and Andy Baird did their best but we looked a bit lightweight up front.'

Blues still should have won it though but Steve Brown squandered Wanderers best chance when he weakly sidefooted a penalty giving keeper Olafur Gottskalsson an easy save.

After previously boasting a 100 per cent record it was Brownie's second successive missed penalty.