Speculation surrounding Morris' future is out of Martin's hands

MK Dons may lose Carlton Morris in January, Russell Martin has admitted, after interest from Championship side Barnsley gathered pace this week.

The Yorkshire club signed Callum Brittain from Dons earlier this year, and are rumoured to have been in touch with Norwich about the services of Morris.

The 25-year-old is on loan until the end of the season from the Canaries, with his contract up at Carrow Road at the end of the season.

Martin said he hopes to sign Morris at when his deal expires, but knows he cannot prevent other clubs snapping the striker up before then.

"When a player isn't ours, it's difficult," he said. "Norwich have been open and honest about interest in Carlton so we'll have to wait and see. People are interested in him because he's a very good performer at this level and can definitely play higher. For the last few weeks in particular, he has been outstanding, a really top performer.

"Whilst we hope to hold on to him for the whole season, I can't guarantee we will. The best plan for everyone would be to get him through to the end of the season and then keep him an MK Dons player, but that will be defined and decided by Norwich because he is there player. We'll have to wait and see.

"While he's here, he will give us everything he's got and if he keeps producing the levels of performance he has done in recent weeks, we'll be more than happy but it's a bridge we'll have to cross in January.

"Fingers crossed we can keep him, but we have to be realistic and ready that we might not be able to."

Following sales of Rhys Healey, Alex Gilbey and the aforementioned Brittain earlier this year, Dons may have funds to give them a boost in January and with a fee required to keep Morris at Stadium MK, Martin did not rule out a play for him next month.

He said: "It would be something we're interested in but we'd have to see how far it goes and what level financially it goes to.

"He loved his time here last season, he's a big part of things here. The relationship I have with him also comes into the equation but ultimately he just really enjoys playing for this football club.

"We fought off a lot of interest for him in the summer and he chose to come back here. I'm sure if there was a possibility and it was feasible for us financially then it would be an option, but we will have to wait and see what happens."