Shrewsbury Town boss Graham Turner is hopeful of adding up to four new faces to his squad before the end of this week.

Turner has already signed Ian Sharps, Mat Sadler, David Raven, Mark Wright and Matt Harrold who all featured in last night’s goalless draw with Coventry.

And the Greenhous Meadow boss is now hoping to put the finishing touches to his squad with more new recruits – which he indicated would all be permanent.

“I would like to think we will get another three players in before the weekend – maybe even four,” said Turner.

“And I think that would give us a squad strong enough to be confident of being a contender for promotion this season.

“There has been a lot of work going on in terms of recruitment – some of it has dragged on for a long time.

“I’m keeping my fingers crossed it will all come to fruition before the weekend.” Asked which positions he was keen to strengthen, Turner added: “We obviously need another goalkeeper.

“We are short of experience in the middle of the back four.

“We have Kevin McIntyre and Craig Disley as central midfield players and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff can play in there, but that is all we have got. And (that leaves room for) one more floater.”

Huddersfield winger Lionel Ainsworth continues to be linked with Shrewsbury.

Display

Reports from Ainsworth’s former club Hereford — who have been keen to bring the 22-year-old back to Edgar Street — suggest the Bulls expect him to sign for Town.

Meanwhile, Turner was pleased with his side’s display against Championship side Coventry, on a night when Steve Leslie missed a penalty for the hosts.

“I thought it was an excellent work-out and it was nice to get on a decent surface,” added Turner.

“It was full of promise from our point of view. we didn’t deliver quite the killer punch that maybe we should have done.

“But there were plenty of good movements, plenty of endeavour and some good defending.

“The result is not that important, although winning does become a habit.

“The quality of play, the fitness training and the movement were the most important issues that we had last night.”

By JAMES GARRISON