NOTTS County are in a Catch-22 situation with Jonathan Forte.

Magpies' boss Ian McParland wants to keep the striker on loan from Scunthorpe United until the end of the season.

But he fears if he scores plenty of goals the Iron will want him back at the end of the month to help with their promotion challenge in League One. Forte drew a blank in the 1-0 defeat at Darlington, but struck twice in the 3-1 win against Bradford City at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

It means he has now scored six goals in eight games in two separate loan spells with the club this season.

He had only made two substitute appearances for Scunthorpe in two months before returning to Meadow Lane last month.

McParland said: "He was a bit ring rusty when he came back but he has played a few games now and we are seeing the benefits of that.

"I'd like him to stay until the end of the season but Scunthorpe are going for a lot of things at the minute.

"They are going for promotion, trying to get into the top-six and they have got a final at Wembley (in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy).

"It's up to the Scunthorpe manager, who's been really good to us. It would be nice to keep him until the end of the season but we will play it by ear. The better he does for us the more likely it is they will want him back."

Forte is under contract with Scunthorpe until the end of next season but is looks like his future might lie away from Glanford Park.

"He's not been playing much at Scunthorpe but he has come here and scored six goals now which is good for us and for him too," added McParland.

"It puts him in the shop window and I'm sure people will be taking note that he is scoring goals."