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Set to swoop?

26/ 3/2008

COUNTY boss Jim Gannon has targeted another midfielder ahead of Thursday’s loan deadline.

With the Hatters currently fifth in League Two, Gannon is looking to bolster his squad ahead of the end-of-season run-in.

While happy with his squad’s achievements thus far, Gannon would like to add reinforcements as County enter the home straight.

He said: "I’m going to have a good chat with the board and with Mark Maguire in particular over the next couple of days and who knows what might happen.

"We’re confident that the player we’ve targeted will come in but the three midfielders have been fantastic – Dom (Blizzard), Gary (Dicker) and Jason (Taylor) – and we’ve got Paul Turnbull and Greg Tansey at the club. But this other midfielder will give us a little bit more protection for the two flank players and another option in terms of his attacking prowess.

"The lads will have a well-earned rest over the next couple of days, but I won’t – I’ll be working hard with the squad players and be working hard to strengthen our position as a squad."

County’s promotion credentials will come under the microscope next month when they face leaders MK Dons as well as Peterborough United and Darlington.

While that may look a daunting prospect, it is one which Gannon believes his team should relish given their results against some of League Two’s more fancied clubs.

County’s latest game was a 0-0 draw at Wycombe, despite the absences of Ashley Williams, to international duty, and Adam Griffin and Adam Proudlock, who were left out of the team.

Gannon said: "We’ve had good results home and away against all the other teams in the play-off spots. Nobody’s going to fear anybody.

"There’s going to be a lot of twists and turns, as there will be for that last seventh spot, so it’s going to be interesting, and with three points for a win now, it makes for fantastic excitement for everybody that might be involved in promotion or play-offs.

"The challenge is there for both Adams to raise their game in training and show me that they are capable of being involved again. You don’t get your opportunity by default; you get it by showing me that you’re worthy of a place."