Chester FC could bring in a new face on loan before this weekend's home game with Lincoln City, according to Jon McCarthy.

Blues boss Steve Burr revealed he wanted to strengthen his squad following the disappointing 3-2 reverse at Barrow on Tuesday night.

His options have been weakened through injuries to Craig Hobson, Craig Mahon and Luke George, the decision to release Dale Tonge and the tragic death of James Roberts' brother with the Oxford United loanee being given compassionate leave.

Left-back Johnny Hunt did not take part in training on Thursday either having picked up a knock in the defeat at Holker Street.

Two potential additions have trained with the squad this week and the management team scouted another on Wednesday night.

McCarthy said: "We went to watch Stoke and Port Vale under-21s. Ryan Shawcross was playing and I don't think we can get him but we're looking at what we can do.

"There's a lot of phone calls the gaffer's following up. We're happy with our squad apart from that level of consistency and the players know that.

"The gaffer has had the opportunities to bring players in but he's waiting for the right one.

"It's not going to be a mad change, we saw last season with the loan market and that little impetus that it gives everyone so something could happen. Whether it happens before Saturday I don't know but there might be a possibility."

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The priorities for the Blues would seem to be in midfield with a pulled quad preventing Mahon from training and George's thigh problem taking longer than hoped to heal.

Although disappointed at recent results, McCarthy doesn't believer there is a need to rush into panic signings and explained the club's financial position meant the manager had to look at younger options.

"We still feel like we're a stronger squad than last year and a better squad," said McCarthy.

"We aren't in a position to go out and buy ready made players at the perfect age that have the right amount of experience. That's just where we're at. We know exactly what we would want but we're not really in the market to go and get that."

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