Cardiff Agree Deal for Manchester United's Alan Smith

Cardiff have reached a deal with Manchester United to take Alan Smith on loan for the remainder of the season - but Smith, who has played just four times since returning from a horrific broken leg and fractured ankle injury suffered against Liverpool in February, remains keen to stay at Old Trafford.

"Sir Alex Ferguson has granted the loan," admitted a Cardiff spokesman. "It is now down to the player."

That's where the stumbling block lies. Cardiff, who top the Championship, need cover as their first-choice striker Steve Thompson is out for next three weeks with an Achilles injury. But Smith, who has struggled to break into Ferguson's first-team plans since his £7m move from Leeds in 2004, wants to fight for his place.

This morning, Smith's agent Alex Black insisted: "Alan is not looking to go anywhere. His priority is to get fit and try and win his place in the United side."