Walk-away striker Benito Carbone could still feature in City's squad at Grimsby on Saturday.

Boss Nicky Law pulled Carbone in for a dressing-down yesterday after the Italian refused to be a substitute against Preston. City are discussing a suitable punishment.

But Law has left the door ajar for him to be involved at Blundell Park. He said: "I don't see why he can't be considered for the weekend.

"But I'm very disappointed and I still can't believe that it's actually happened. He has not missed any training sessions or anything like that.

"Carbone couldn't expect to come back from somewhere and walk straight back into a team that had got a couple of good results.

"He would still have got on the pitch on Tuesday but he chose not to. It's hardly a way of leading by example.

"We've spoken to him and a decision will be made over the next couple of days about what to do next. Carbone was all right about it."

Any recall for Carbone after his Valley Parade disappearing act would produce a mixed reaction in the dressing room.

Law said: "I don't know what they will think, you would have to ask the players about that.

"But if he is looking for a move to a Premiership club then he is clearly not going about it the best way.

"This is a problem I could do without. We've got enough anyway."

City slipped back to 17th spot after Portsmouth's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last night.