NEWPORT County AFC are facing a race against time in order to secure loan signings before the weekend clash with Carlisle United.

Meanwhile, the planned takeover of the club by supporters is inching closer.

The Supporters' Trust community shares offer has now raised £140,000 towards its £195,000 target. The deadline is next Wednesday.

The Exiles face their longest round-trip of the campaign on Saturday to face Keith Curle’s side; that went up against Premier League giants Liverpool on Wednesday night in Capital One Cup action.

Saturday represents a big game for two clubs at the wrong end of League Two and boss Terry Butcher had made clear he expected to have defensive reinforcements at the club before the weekend, with defenders Matt Taylor and Andrew Hughes having been out all season with injury and Regan Poole and Kevin Feely both departing Rodney Parade.

Boss Butcher told Argus Sport at his press briefing last week that he was hopeful of adding to his squad, but not before Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Dagenham.

Butcher is understood to be targeting a striker and a central defender and was yesterday linked with a move for a 20-year old striker at a Premier League club.

County are reportedly interested in signing striker Keshi Anderson on loan from Premier League club Crystal Palace.

The 20-year-old has scored two hat-tricks for the Eagles' under-21 squad so far this season.

And the Croydon Advertiser reports: “It is believed League Two strugglers Newport County and Dagenham and Redbridge in particular are interested in taking Anderson on loan to give him his first taste of Football League experience.

“Palace will decide on where best to send the former Barton Rovers man or instead keep him in their development squad for the time being,” adds the report.

"I am 20 years old so I am hoping to get a good enough loan move," Anderson told the Croydon Advertiser. "I have been putting in good performances and other teams are noticing I am doing well and the energy I bring.

"I am just hoping and waiting, but my aim is to just keep scoring goals for the U21s and do as well as I can."

The Exiles boss indicated he wouldn’t be looking at signing another young player in regard to a defender, believing the club need more experience at the back. Butcher is scheduled to hold another press briefing on Thursday afternoon.

“We already wanted another defender, it’s our priority, very much so, Aaron Hayden leaving and Matt Taylor’s ongoing injury makes it a necessity of a signing for us,” Butcher said.

“We need to reinforce, very much so and we have been working on that for some time.

“We are making good progress and I’m not just saying that to appease people. If we weren’t making progress, I would say so.”

It’s expected Butcher will also deliver an update on the future of loan striker Zak Ansah, who Butcher indicated last week could see his loan stay at Rodney Parade prolonged.

The Newport County Supporters’ Trust have now raised £140,000 towards the £195,000 they need to take control of the club from owner Les Scadding. The Trust received a £10,000 single donation earlier this week.

The Trust's community share offer closes on September 30.