County chasing striker (From South Wales Argus)

County chasing striker

10:43am Wednesday 24th June 2009 in Sport By Michael Pearlman

NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth expects to begin putting the finishing touches to his much-improved squad when the Exiles return to pre-season training on Friday.

The manager, currently taking his UEFA A license coaching qualification in Cardiff, expects to announce a significant signing on Friday, a winger/striker who the Argus has been asked not to name. The player is wanted by several clubs and has yet to put pen to paper at Spytty Park as he has been abroad.

Holdsworth has however, secured some goalkeeping competition for the new season after agreeing a deal with Forest Green Rovers to sign local-boy and lifelong County fan Tom Pass.

The 18-year old Chepstow lad has dreamed of donning the gloves for Wales, but was unexpectedly given a call for the England squad and is currently their first choice at Under-18 level.

He is surplus to requirements at Forest Green and will be offered a contract with County, though it is likely he’ll be allowed to leave on loan with a recall clause when the new season gets under way.

Holdsworth, in addition to the two new signings, will also be running the rule over several triallists in pre-season.

Two of those will be ex-Team Bath men, right back Matt Lock, 24, who is hoping to find a club on a permanent basis but has agreed to train with the Exiles in pre-season. He could be offered a short-term deal to provide competition for Paul Bignot, (Steve Jenkins and Ian Hillier both departing this summer).

Also coming in for training is striker Tom Piotrowski, 20, the former Reading youth player who scored for Team Bath against the Exiles last term. He could well impress enough to be offered terms with Craig Reid and Dave Gilroy the only recognised strikers in the squad.

Another triallist is the 33-year old much travelled Ali Gibb, the versatile former Norwich and Northampton player. He is keen to sign with County, though with Holdsworth’s squad already largely in place, Gibb is likely to be competing with Kevin Cooper for a contract.

Holdsworth has told the Argus that Cooper is making great strides in recovering from a broken ankle. Both men would provide an experience from the bench that could be invaluable.

Meanwhile, former Cardiff man Matt Smith is likely to be offered terms to provide competition for left-back Martyn Giles, though it is unclear whether Kris Leek will still be at County next term, though he too is set to be involved in pre-season, as will goalkeeper Keiron Blackburn.

Meanwhile, a true icon of world football will be strutting his stuff in Newport this summer.

Hugo Sanchez, the Mexican striker who played in three World Cups and who is the second highest scorer ever in Spain’s Primera Division and who is a five time La Liga winner with Real Madrid, will be coming to Newport with his Almeria side.

Almeria have lined up friendlies with Swansea, Reading and Wigan and will be based at the Celtic Manor, as well as training at Spytty Park, between July 31 and August 6.