Steve Burr would like to re-sign Matty Hughes in January but that depends on how the forward gets on back at Fleetwood Town.

Hughes made an excellent impression in his two-month loan spell at the Swansway Chester Stadium but the League One club recalled him following the win over AFC Telford United on Tuesday.

Hughes, 22, scored five times in his nine appearances although he did miss three games through suspension after being sent off in the defeat at Eastleigh.

Fleetwood, who signed Hughes from non-league Skelmersdale United, have been struggling for goals and have a shortage of forward options.

David Ball, Jamille Matt and Martin Paterson are injured and Jamie Proctor has been out through suspension, prompting Graham Alexander to recall Hughes.

Burr understands Fleetwood's position but the loss of Hughes has been compounded because Rhys Oates cannot play against parent club Barnsley and Tom Peers is cup-tied, so Craig Hobson and teenager Ben Greenop are the only available forwards for the FA Cup game this weekend.

Hughes has been on the periphery at Fleetwood this season and, should he be unable to get a run of games in the side, Burr will revisit the situation in January and has not ruled out a permanent move.

Burr said: "Matty's done well for us and we're missing Rhys as well this weekend but obviously we understand the implications of him not being able to play against his employees.

"They have got a lot of injuries at Fleetwood so it was one of those. When they're not your player the risk of it happening is quite high, especially if like Fleetwood they've picked up a lot of injuries.

"We were pleased Fleetwood loaned him out to us in the first place, he's done well and we'll just keep our eye on things when January comes around and see if we can get him back but obviously it is a blow for us because he's done very well.

"I think from Matty's point of view he goes back to Fleetwood in a lot better shape than he came because he wasn't playing.

"The confidence he's got from getting in amongst the goals is what Fleetwood wanted so that's a bonus for them.

"We will just have to see because he could back there and start playing and scoring and then they won't want to loan him out but you just never know in football and we'll just keep an eye on things.

Oates, who has two goals in six games so far, will remain with the Blues until after the trip to Barnet on December 20 although Burr plans to talk to Barnsley about extending that arrangement, but not until after the clubs meet on Sunday.

Burr said: "We haven't spoke about it at the minute obviously with the two sides meeting but we'll have a conversation after the game on Sunday regarding Rhys

"He's here until the Barnet game and again he's done very well so it all depends on situations regarding Barnsley and their strikeforce and what they feel but it would be nice to keep him."