Manchester City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh and Stuart Pearce have been working hard behind the scenes to sign a striker before the transfer window closes. Aside from six goals in the FA Cup, City have still to break the 20-goal barrier in the Premiership - after 24 games.

With Tottenham’s striker Mido understood to be at the top of the list of January targets, chairman John Wardle has again dipped into his pocket to provide the necessary funds. However, that move is likely to be blocked by Spurs, with their manager Martin Jol reluctant to let the Egyptian go while Dimitar Berbatov is injured.

Mido, 23, was thrown straight into the Spurs team for their Premiership game at Old Trafford having just completed his move to White Hart Lane when Berbatov was sidelined with a similar problem back in September.

A firm refusal from London would give City more time to concentrate on Pearce’s upcoming involvement with the England Under-21s. Mackintosh has already told Pearce any six month part-time contract with the national team must not include him leading the side for a friendly in March, nor any scouting missions ahead of this summer’s European Championships.

Pearce would argue that the latter can benefit the club, as he will be aware of young prospects from abroad ahead of the competition in the Premiership.

"The FA voiced an opinion that they'd like me to manage the Under-21s and I have accepted the offer. Being the patriot I am, it was something I jumped at," said Pearce. “The club had concerns about me doing the job and maybe it taking my eye off the ball but the board of directors here have been very, very supportive to me.

"The club, in the brief negotiations they've had so far, have made it quite clear that if anything were to happen, it would be working for the Under-21s until the summer - finished, no further. That tournament would be the last time.”

City are currently mid-table and going strong in the FA Cup, but the squad is relatively threadbare, and so far the only signing made by Pearce in this transfer window has been Djamel Abdoun from the French second division, who is a couple of weeks away from his 21st birthday.

Pearce and assistant Steve Wigley, the former academy director at Southampton, have helped the career of young England full-back Micah Richards to blossom, and they were rewarded for their part when the player turned down Chelsea’s advances a fortnight ago. Joey Barton also made the decision based on footballing reasons to stay put and advance his career further at the club.

Both players are products of City’s academy and another, defender Nedum Onuoha, is a player Pearce could work with at club and national level.

Onuoha earned his first England Under-21 cap at the beginning of last season. Although he’s missed City’s last two games, he returned to the side over Christmas after a year-long lay-off with injury. Even during that brief comeback, his performances improved with every game as Pearce urged him to work harder and release his full potential.

Developing a player’s mental toughness is the manager’s strength and is a quality that has stayed with  44-year-old Pearce since his own playing days. With more experience of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, he can go on to do great things.

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