Micky Mellon: We need game-ready players

The boss is keen to fill the gaps in central midfield left by Ryan Woods, Martin Woods and the injured James Wesolowski and has taken Ian Black and Rhys McCabe on trial.

Both played in the development team's 3-2 win at Wrexham on Wednesday along with freed Blackburn player Yann Songo'o, a Cameroon-born centre-back.

Mellon has been bombarded with names from agents since banking the thick end of £2m from the sales of Connor Goldson, Ryan Woods, Harry Lewis and Josh Ginnelly.

But he wants to take his time to bring in the right targets after admitting his young pretenders aren't quite ready.

"We're very low in numbers in terms of being able to win games," said the Town chief. "We need to try to get some 'game-ready' League One players into the building as soon as we possibly can. I want people to come in who aren't just potential – it will be guys who are ready to play in League One.

"We've got a few things going on and we'll see if they come to fruition for us over the next few days."

As for Black and McCabe, Mellon joked: "They're in my thoughts along with another 500!

"They're options but we're looking at all options because we need to get it as close to being as right as possible when we bring players in. We'll take our time over it and try to make sure that the players we bring in add something."

Mellon admitted players such as Northern Ireland age group internationals Darren McKnight and Chris Gallagher aren't yet ready.

"We've got a lot of potential in our young lads who I think are going to be good enough," he said.

"But they're probably just a bit short at the moment."

Songo'o, 23, was freed by Rovers after playing once in two years. He started his career in Spain with Deportivo and Zaragoza before switching to the United States with Sporting Kansas City and Orlando City and had a 17-match loan at SPL side Ross County last season.