Ronnie seeks reinforcements

Short in the right-back and centre-half positions, Moore has already signed Peterborough United's Exodus Geohaghon on loan as cover for Nick Fenton in the heart of the defence.

The experienced centre-back was expected to be back fit for the weekend friendly at Tamworth but took a knock in training the day before.

To make matters worse, right-back Dale Tonge has suffered a reoccurrence of his metatarsal injury while Jamie Green, who has filled in in that position, limped off in the first half at Tamworth with a groin problem.

Moore, still in the market for an experienced strike partner for top scorer Adam Le Fondre, said: "I've never known a pre-season like this for injuries. It's not ideal to lose people so close to the season but is so much easier to find a right-back and a centre-half than it is to find a striker."