Steve Burr still wants to bring a new centre forward to Chester FC and hopes to tie up a deal before the home game with Lincoln City on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Burr has made seven signings this month, adding Brad Abbott, Cory Williams, Jon Viscosi, Josh Green, Matty Hughes, Ryan Higgins and Thomas Strain to his squad.

However, the Chester boss remains keen to add more strength and experience to his forward line.

Tom Peers, 19, started in the central role in the goalless draw at Southport on Saturday with Craig Hobson struggling with a toe injury.

Burr said: "I'm still looking and hopefully maybe by Tuesday we can get somebody else in. I still think we need a bit of an option up there and more of a targetman for us.

"I must say young Tom did well at Southport. He's been really bright in training, he's showed a lot of energy, he's got a smashing attitude to the game and he got himself in the starting 11 with what he showed us in training."

Rhys Oates, who was not in the Barnsley squad at the weekend, could be an option under consideration while Conference Premier rivals Gateshead, who signed three attacking players at the end of last week, are understood to be looking to move on a couple of forwards.

Meanwhile, Burr has explained his decision to bring Michael Kay back into the team against Southport.

Kay lost his place at centre-half when he was sent-off in the FA Cup win at Stockport County in October.

Matty Brown came in and the captain struck up a good understanding with Keiran Charnock before 16 goals conceded in seven games led to the manager breaking up that partnership.

Kay and Brown, who had only previously played alongside each other twice, once last season and once this, linked up well as the Blues kept a clean sheet.

Burr said: "I spoke to the four centre halves, and I said look we've got to hit on the right partnership.

"It;s not down to the centre halves that we're conceding goals, it's as a team but we've got four centre halves at the club now and they've got to make their own partnership.

"I think Kieran's been tremendous all season and I had a chat with him in the week about what we were going to do.

"We won't hang about and if it doesn't happen we'll get him back in or we'll get Ben Henaghan in."