Hereford United director of football Graham Turner has successfully concluded his search for an experienced goalkeeper by signing former Scotland international Jonathan Gould.

And the Bulls boss is on the verge of ending his quest for a target man by tieing up a deal with former Bradford City, Portsmouth and Coventry striker Lee Mills.

Gould, aged 36, joins the club initially on a month's loan from Preston North End with a view to a permanent deal.

The son of former Hereford player and Wales manager Bobby Gould, the experienced stopper played for Scotland in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Lithuania in 1999 and picked up a second cap in a friendly against Australia the following year.

He gained Premiership experience with Coventry City before moving on to Bradford City and then to Celtic where he made more than 150 first-team appearances for the Bhoys, picking up a championship medal in his first season at Celtic Park in 1997-8.

He subsequently moved on to join the former Scotland boss Craig Brown at Deepdale and was Preston's first choice in their Division 1 campaign last season.

Mills, 34, who was given his first chance in professional football when Turner signed him for Wolves from Stocksbridge Steels for £15,000, has also played Premiership football with Bradford City after his 23 goals fired the Bantams to promotion in 1998-9.

"Lee Mills just wants to play football," said Turner. "It's now just a question of whether we take him for a month to have a good look at him or sign him on a year's deal now.

"With someone who has such a good pedigree you're not really taking much of a chance and there's a possibility we shall have a deal tied up for the season before the weekend."

Turner, who has also signed former Hartlepool left-back Mark Robinson on a month's trial with a view to a season-long deal, has one or two injury worries before Saturday's Conference opener with Farnborough at Edgar Street.

Ryan Green is expected to join in training today (Thursday) for the first time in a fortnight and David Brown and Tony James, knee and thigh respectively, have also trained this week.

Rob Purdie, however, is a doubt after turning his ankle and Danny Carey-Bertram is still awaiting the results of a scan on his knee.

But Turner remains in good spirits about the season ahead of the Farnborough encounter and next Tuesday's trip to Crawley.

"We have a decent squad of players who are looking fit and sharp," he said. "There's no reason for anything but optimism."