NEWPORT County are hoping to seal a deal to sign Bristol Rovers striker Ben Hunt before Saturday’s home clash with Woking.

Negotiations between the two clubs are at an advanced stage with manager Dean Holdsworth and general manager Tim Harris optimistic that the paperwork will be completed within the next 24 hours.

Last-minute hitches aside, the 6ft 1ins forward will join the Exiles on loan until the end of the Blue Square South season having just completed a three-month spell at Harris’ former club Gloucester City in the Blue Square North.

Hunt, a former West Ham schoolboy, has made 15 substitute appearances for Rovers over the last two seasons.

The League One side’s director of football Lennie Lawrence and manager Paul Trollope have high hopes for the 20-year-old and have been impressed with his progress at relegation threatened Gloucester where he netted four times in 12 games.

With Sam Foley ruled out for the remaining six games of the season with a broken leg and Stuart Douglas having returned to Bath City, Holdsworth is keen to add to his firepower.

And the Exiles boss sees Hunt as the ideal man to supplement the talents of top scorer Craig Reid and the returning Dave Gilroy.

“Ben has agreed to join us on loan until the end of the season, which is great news,” said Holdsworth.

“I’ve spoken to Lennie Lawrence and he rates the lad very highly.

“He’s got power, pace and bags of potential and it’s a good chance for us to have a look at him with next season in mind.

“He’s done well at Gloucester in a struggling side and with Sam’s injury (a fractured leg) this is a good opportunity to shake things up.”