Shrewsbury Town manager Paul Simpson was today hoping to close in on another double transfer swoop – as the prospects of a clean bill of health moved closer.Simpson has confirmed he is hoping to tie up two deals – which would take his number of pre-season recruits to eight – before Saturday’s final friendly against Premier League Stoke.

If successful, one would be a permanent move with the other a loan signing – and Simpson insisted he would not be required to move on any of his current squad for the transfers to go ahead.

“I’m hopeful we will have two more in by the weekend,” said Simpson.

“We have been talking for a while now but I’m hopeful that there will be a little bit of movement by the weekend.

“There are no outs at this moment in time. There does need to to be outs but again I take my hat off to the chairman.

“He’s the one saying let’s go and do it and let’s see if we can get the best we possibly can.”

Meanwhile, David Hibbert and Darren Moss were hoping to return to training today as the race for starting shirts for the season opener against Macclesfield in 10 days time intensifies.

Hibbert missed Monday’s narrow Shropshire Senior Cup semi-final victory over Market Drayton with a stomach strain – while Moss sat out yesterday with a minor injury sustained in training.

Midfielder Paul Murray is the only other to be carrying a slight niggle after sustaining a sore hip against Drayton.

Midfielder Ben Davies believes his side’s intense pre-season training programme could leave them amongst the fittest teams in League Two.

“A lot of the lads have said it’s the toughest pre-season they have been involved and the five days we had in Spain was the hardest I have ever done,” said the former Chester man.

“It’s only going to stand us in good stead for the season.

“At times last season, I didn’t think we were fit enough as a group but that won’t be a problem this season and hopefully it will make a big difference in the last 20 minutes of games.”

By James Garrison