MARK STIMSON will step up his hunt for fresh faces this week ahead of the pending transfer deadline.

The transfer window on loan signings closes at the end of the week and Stimson is keen to bolster his side – particularly after losing two central defenders on Sunday.

Efe Sodje ended up in hospital after being knocked unconscious during the 2-1 defeat at Yeovil, while Ian Cox pulled a thigh muscle.

That could mean Stimson may need to reassess his transfer plans after initially preparing a bid for Grays midfielder Stuart Thurgood.

Stimson said: “We’ll have a look on Monday and Tuesday and see who is available. We may need to go into the market because I think Ian Cox will be out for a couple of weeks now.

“We now have to take a look at the centre half position with Sodje and Cox’s injuries. There are one two players we’re looking at and maybe we can do a deal and bring them into the club and take the club forward."

“Before the Yeovil game the boy Thurgood could have been our main priority but now a centre half is and they are gold dust, especially good ones. I’ve already got one or two names in the back of my head I’m trying to get after and hopefully I can get someone in because it’s a key area of the pitch.”

Stimson has yet to speak to Thurgood but he’s a player he has worked with before and knows all about him.

He said: “I’ve been given permission to speak to him. I haven’t spoken to him over the weekend because I’ve been focused on the game."