NOTTINGHAM Forest goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has joined Wycombe Wanderers on emergency loan.

Blues boss Gareth Ainsworth has been battling to fill the void for several weeks due to the continued absence of Ryan Allsop and Yves Ma-Kalambay through injury.

The Wycombe manager had been banking on extending the loan of Birmingham City stopper David Stockdale, but his request was turned down by the Championship club.

That forced Ainsworth to delve into the loan market again before securing the services of 30-year-old Henderson this afternoon for at least the next seven days.

Ainsworth explained: “David played a fantastic part in our two victories during his time here and both he and I were keen to keep him.

"Unfortunately we weren’t able to do so and now we’re grateful to Nottingham Forest for allowing us to bring in Stephen for the next week at least."

Irishman Henderson has dropped down the pecking order with Nottingham Forest and was available for a loan transfer.

He is set to make his Wycombe debut this Saturday in the League One home fixture against Barnsley (3pm ko).

Ainsworth added: “It’s a tough game for us against Barnsley on Saturday but Stephen’s got good experience across the Football League.

"I’m sure he’ll come here sharp and prepared for the challenge of helping us keep this excellent run of form going.”

Dublin-born Henderson made a number of appearances for the Republic of Ireland youth teams and once made the bench for the senior team in a friendly against Czech Republic in 2012.

Goalkeeping runs in his family as his uncles, David and Wayne, were both former professional keepers, the latter even playing three games for the Chairboys during a loan spell from Aston Villa in 2004.

Stephen also lists Villa as his first club and he has also enjoyed spells with Bristol City, Portsmouth, West Ham, Charlton and Nottingham Forest, plus a series of loan moves.

He will become the fifth different goalkeeper used by Wanderers this season, equalling the club record in the EFL era, and will be the 99th different player to represent the Blues under Ainsworth.

Henderson - who nearly joined Wycombe on loan from Bristol City in 2010 - will wear squad number 28.