A NEW right-back, a striker and a goalkeeper top Kevin Blackwell’s wish list as he looks to add to this week’s seven signings.

The Shakers manager moved swiftly on to his next targets after convincing latest recruit Tom Soares to sign on the dotted line on Tuesday, bringing the total number of fit first-team players at the club to 13.

He ran the rule over 17 trialists in Bury’s 4-0 defeat to Romanian side Oletul Galati behind closed doors at FA headquarters St George’s Park on Tuesday.

And while Blackwell revealed he was close to agreeing deals for “one or two” of them, he still has plenty of recruiting to do before the League Two campaign kicks off on August 3.

“What I need is a squad of 15 or 16 players who I know will be ready and able to slot right into the first team if they are called upon,” he said.

“Looking at the squad we have now, we haven’t got a right back and we have four positions where we only have one person for that role, so we haven’t got any strength in depth.

"Centre-forward is one such area that we are looking at, and while Trevor Carson is fit and has done all the pre-season work, we will need to add another goalkeeper to the squad.”

Blackwell confirmed that former Bury stiker Craig Fagan was no longer training with the club, one of seven trialists thought to have been let go this week, while rumours linking experienced pros Robbie Blake and Paul McKenna with moves to Gigg Lane have so far proved unfounded.