JOHN Coleman has revealed he's not given up hope of bringing David Mannix back to Accrington Stanley.

The Reds boss is planning to speak to the former Liverpool midfielder today - less than 24 hours of returning from Stanley's warm-weather training break near Barcelona - in the hope of luring him back for a second stint at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

But there is competition for the 21-year-old, who had his contract terminated by Liverpool, with Norweigan side HamKam reportedly interested in whisking him away from British shores.

Mannix was recently handed a trial by the Norweigan Premier League side and his representative John Neald confirmed that a move to Scandinavia could happen.

But Coleman - who is looking to bolster his squad with one or two players' before the weekend - is keen to have Mannix among his ranks.

Mannix went on loan to Stanley last November and made one League Two appearance at Grimsby before his one-month spell was cut short by a knee injury.

"I will be speaking to David Mannix," revealed Coleman. "He's going to be looking at playing football again.

"He's someone we are looking at, but we have to wait and see. I have to speak to him first. We are still trying to bring in one or two players by the weekend and I'm hoping that will happen."

Coleman admits that Stanley's mid-season training trip to Spain has done his players the power of good as they go without a league fixture this weekend.

The Reds arrived back in England last night after spending five days in the Costa Brava region.

Their mid-season trip culminated with a training session game against Espanyol at their B team's Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Adriá venue.

The Spanish Primera Liga outfit, who lined-up with former Birmingham City striker Walter Pandiani, won the game 4-1 with teenage striker Chris McGrail, on work experience' from Preston North End, netting for the Reds.

Coleman said: "It was not a match - more like a training session. It was a chance to give the lads a run out and it was a good session for them.

"The trip was really good, very worthwhile. It's just been a case of getting the lads together on the trip and doing a bit of work.

"Being without a game for so long, it was just nice to get them out here, somewhere nice, although it's been quite cold!"

Stanley's next League Two clash is at home to Chester on Saturday, February 3.

They are without a fixture this weekend as Bristol Rovers are in the FA Cup.