NEWPORT County AFC manager John Sheridan hopes to sign a new striker today and he wants a fox in the box – because he’s tired of his front men scoring from 30 yards.

Lenell John-Lewis curled in a spectacular opener at Oxford United on Tuesday before Pat Hoban’s leveller meant the Exiles had to settle for a draw.

And Sheridan believes his side could have won if they’d been more alert in front of goal.

“He’s struck it well, it’s a great finish and it was worthy of winning any game,” he said of John-Lewis’ goal.

“I’d like my strikers to score a few more tap-ins though!

“I really would. I think in the box we’re a bit flat-footed at times and our reactions are a bit slow.

“I’d like us to score a few scrappy goals because at this moment in time we’re scoring a lot of good goals.

“All goals are good but I’d like a few in the six-yard box.

“The best goals for strikers are the little tap-ins.”

After missing out on one target last week, believed to be free agent Francois Zoko who subsequently signed for Yeovil Town, the Exiles boss says he will get his man this week.

“I’m talking to one or two and I’m confident that we’ll have someone in before Thursday,” he said.

“I just think we need someone in that position to add to what we’ve got with Zak Ansah’s loan coming to an end.

“If they’re scoring goals somewhere else they’re hard to get but I’m working hard and I’m confident we’ll get someone in.”

Sheridan is also hopeful that the injury that forced off defender Scot Bennett at Oxford will not keep him out of Saturday’s home clash with Luton Town.

“It was a big blow to lose Scot,” he said. “He’s not someone who shouts a lot but the way he plays you can see he is important to us and I thought he was excellent when he was on the pitch.

“He’s calm and he uses the ball well so it was a big loss but hopefully it’s nothing too serious.

“It’s his rib, he fell awkwardly on it and I think he was just a bit winded.”

Sheridan praised his players but says they need to improve their concentration and be more vocal.

“The players are working their socks off,” he said.

“But we do switch off, players do go to sleep and we have to be on their case all the time.

“We are a quiet team and, unfortunately for the players, I am quite vocal – I need to be.

“The most important thing is that we stay in the division and that’s all I’m looking at.

“We’re just trying to gain an advantage on the bottom two – whoever they are. We’ve just got to make sure it’s not us.”