PHIL Gartside expects Kevin Davies to rejoin the push for promotion if he does not sort a loan deal away from the Reebok by the end of today.

Sheffield Wednesday remain the most likely destination should the Wanderers front man leave the club by close of play, although it is understood that the Owls are currently struggling to put a deal together in time.

Davies has been told by the club that he will be granted a fund-raising game to mark his sterling contribution but that he must apply via the correct channels for the privilege.

The striker will be released in the summer, however, after Wanderers failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

Gartside explained: “To be fair, Kevin wants to carry on playing football and Dougie (Freedman) has said 'if that's what you want then I can't guarantee you football. If you feel you can sort yourself out for another year right now, then that's the reason for the timing'. He's got until Thursday night to find something, if he wants it. It's not done for any other reason than football reasons.”

Davies has been a regular part of Freedman's side in the last couple of months despite his contract issues.

The apparent difference of opinion between player and club now threatens to cast a shadow on a play-off push that had already been cast into doubt with the defeat at Ipswich Town just before the international break.

Gartside hopes that the club can galvanise for the final eight games in an effort to make the top six.

“One of the things that came out on Tuesday that we didn't know about was that Kevin said he had been talking to a couple of clubs,” he told Talksport last night.

“With all due respect, we've got an important eight games until the end of the regular season and probably the most important that anybody has been involved with in the last 10 years here because we still have hopes of achieving a play-off place.

“The most important thing that anybody should be looking at right now, if they are committed to the club, is actually performing to the best that they can do to get into the play-offs. We've got a limited period to do that and we want everybody to be 100 per cent committed. If people are talking to other clubs, then that doesn't indicate that they are 100 per cent committed.”