Shrewsbury Town keen to net proven goalscorer before Thursday deadline

Boss Sam Ricketts has signed five players so far this window but is still after extra firepower to help Town climb League One.

Ricketts admitted forwards of that calibre are ‘hard’ to get hold of but Town are interested in a couple of high-profile strikers coming in on loan.

Town have brought in forward Sam Smith, 20, on loan from Reading but, particularly after losing Lenell John-Lewis to injury, require another body. The January window shuts at 11pm on Thursday.

Boss Ricketts has hinted that the club’s extended FA Cup run could provide a timely windfall.

Town aren’t just focusing in attacking areas in the final throes of the window.

They are also believed to be keen on adding another goalkeeper to the ranks despite the free transfer of Reice Charles-Cook.

While Ricketts would also like to bolster his central defence options.

Shrewsbury have three senior centre-halves – all currently playing in a 3-4-2-1 system – and injury or suspension, such as Mat Sadler’s for the FA Cup replay at Wolves, could make them short.

Nine players have departed this month with more to follow.

“I want to add quality in every position but forwards is part of that,” said Ricketts.

“If someone becomes available with good quality who is going to help the team then you’ll always do it. It’s a hard thing, forwards. Everyone does want goalscorers, it doesn’t matter what level you’re at.

“They’re hard to come by, hard to find then you have to fight off however many other clubs to try to get them.”

Ricketts, who leads his side into a crunch League One clash at Bradford tonight, could also add competition at left-back and wing-back before this week’s deadline.

His former Wolves team-mate Scott Golbourne, 30, had been training at Sundorne and featured as a trialist last week.

“Scotty hasn’t actually been in for the last couple of days,” the boss added. “He came in training, he’s obviously without a club at the moment. He had been in at Wolves but he came and trained with us.

“It’s just getting him back into full training and fitness. He’s not currently around at the minute. We’ll see how that one goes.”