FULL-back Ben Gordon 'can't wait' to complete his loan switch to Scunthorpe United.

But the Chelsea defender will not arrive on loan at Glanford Park until the end of this week at the earliest, according to boss Ian Baraclough.

Gordon is currently receiving treatment at the Premier League champions for a hamstring injury sustained at the end of a loan spell at Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock.

"I spoke to Ben yesterday and he's going to be with Chelsea for another few days at least," said Baraclough.

"But he's stepped his rehab up and he tells me he can't wait to get in. He watched the game on Sky on Saturday and is looking forward to coming up here

"Whether he'll be here in time for the weekend I don't know and obviously we'll have to assess him when he gets here because he's already missed three weeks of football."

Born in Bradford, Gordon joined Chelsea as a trainee from Leeds in 2007 and recently signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge, one which runs until 2013.

The 19-year-old is a natural left-back – a position which has been occupied for most of the season by Eddie Nolan and one in which newcomer Andy Hughes enjoyed an excellent debut against Burnley on Saturday.

The versatile Hughes can also play in a midfield role, while Nolan is equally at home at right-back.

Baraclough is looking for a good reaction from Nolan ahead of the bottom-of-the-table clash with his old club Preston on Saturday.

“Eddie was hurt to be left out against Burnley,” said the United boss.

“But he has played the most amount of minutes for us this season and in his last few performances I have felt he was looking a bit tired and lethargic.

“He would have liked to have played against Burnley, but I just felt we needed to freshen things up a bit.”