WOLVES manager Dave Jones remains determined to lure Leicester striker Ade Akinbiyi back to Molineux.

Jones, who has guided his club to the top of Division One, is in daily contact with Leicester boss Dave Bassett to try and thrash out a deal for Akinbiyi who left Wolves to join Leicester for £5million last year.

He has endured a torrid time at Filbert Street and is without a goal in the Premiership this season.

But that has not put off Jones, who last week failed with a bid to take Akinbiyi back on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Jones said: "Hopefully we can thrash something out. It is an on-going situation.

"At the moment he is getting an absolute pasting and it must be really hard for him. He just needs a break and maybe if he comes to us he can put a few in.

"Sometimes players go to clubs and it does not work out. Maybe it is time to start afresh and moving might be the helping hand he needs."

Meanwhile, Birmingham caretaker-manager Mick Mills was unconcerned about attempts to lure Steve Bruce back to St Andrews as a replacement for the departed Trevor Francis.

Crystal Palace have refused Bruce permission to speak to Birmingham about the vacancy and Mills and his assistant Jim Barron are content to carry on in a temporary capacity.