Alan Knill was frustrated to see Scunthorpe's match against Walsall postponed last Saturday – but no-one has been as disappointed as on-loan front man Jon Parkin, according to the Iron boss.

The stocky striker has not played any first-team football since the middle of December, while on loan with Huddersfield Town, and had been itching to make a quick impression with the Iron, having joined the club, initially for a month, on transfer deadline day last week.

Parkin's hopes though of making his debut had to be put on hold until at least the coming weekend, when overnight temperatures of minus seven made the Glanford Park pitch unplayable for what should have been a crunch clash with the Saddlers.

"It's been really frustrating for the new players," said Knill, who also brought in David Mirfin and Wolves teenager Jamie Reckord last week.

"Jon Parkin hasn't played in a while and he can't wait to get playing.

"Each time we get a game called off it's going to be more frustrating for him.

"Christian Ribeiro was back too (from injury) and wanted to be involved, but it's one of those things. You can't do anything about the weather."

Although temperatures in the south west have been much higher than the north during the past couple of days, the fact forecasters suggest they will be close to freezing overnight for the rest of the week could well put the Iron's long trip to Yeovil Town this coming Saturday in doubt.

Scunthorpe have had to use their indoor training facility, The Shed, at Grove Wharf for the past couple of days, with the regular training pitches covered in snow.

Knill is confident though his side will still be prepared, and in good shape, for the journey to Huish Park.

"We're quite lucky that we've got an indoor area we can use. A lot of clubs haven't," he said.

"At Bury, when the weather was like it has been, we used to have to scout around everywhere to find somewhere to train.

"Sometimes we used to end up just throwing snowballs at each other, so we're in quite a good position.

"It was disappointing to lose the game last Saturday.

"The bottom end of the pitch was okay, it was the top end, in front of the away stand, which was rock hard and some parts near the halfway line were the same.

"It was a pretty easy decision for the referee to make, but we could have done with a game, just to give the players we've brought in a run-out.

"It's frustrating, but we were in the same boat as a lot of teams."