GUISELEY have extended the deals for two of their on-loan players.

Striker James Roberts and defender Adan Crookes will remain with the Lions for the rest of the Vanarama National League campaign.

Both have caught the eye in their initial month at Nethermoor.

Forest youngster Crooks, 20, has put in a number of solid displays while Oxford United forward Roberts has netted twice and proved a lively presence in the side.

Manager Paul Cox will be delighted to have kept the pair on board as his side continue their fight to avoid relegation.

News of their extended deals came as reports surfaced in Lancashire linking Accrington Stanley with a move for goalkeeper Jonny Maxted.

He impressed when the Lions knocked the League Two side out of the FA Cup and the speculation intensified when he missed last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at AFC Fylde.

The club said Maxted was ill after he was replaced by Joe Green, but they also took the precaution of signing Academy goalkeeper Fletcher Paley on as cover.

The Lions are nine points from safety and Saturday’s home game with Cox’s former club Barrow is taking on massive importance.

It is a match Guiseley desperately need to win. Victory would cut the gap to their opponents to six points.

Cox insists there is no panic in the camp and has issued a rallying call to his players.

“I have told them we can’t keep being victims. You have got to stand up and fight this league. You have got to fight the opposition and bite and scratch. It is ok everybody being down at the moment when you are not winning matches consistently or hitting targets.

“However, I am not a down person, I am a fighter, a scrapper. Whether it is short, medium or long-term I will achieve my goals for this club.

“That is my vision my focus. I will not rest until I get there.”

He added: “I am probably the most frustrated man in Guiseley. For one, I have a desire to achieve with this club and two, there’s been a lot of things I thought needed to be changed and that has hindered our progress.

“I have got a belief for the people I work for and the support we get. When they come out in the numbers they do it just makes us want to work harder to achieve our goals.”