Hereford United boss Graham Turner has swooped to sign two players - and is close to landing a third - ahead of Saturday's Nationwide Conference crunch match with Margate at Edgar Street.

The former Wolves boss has signed 21-year-old former Bristol City striker Albano Correia on a non-contract basis until the end of the season and veteran goalkeeper Mark Gayle, who is playing for Solihull Borough, also on non-contract terms.

Turner hopes to complete the signing this morning of 21-year-old striker Karl Hawley on a month's loan from Walsall.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, Turner said: "Albano has played four games for Bristol City's first team this season and has scored 17 goals in their reserve team this year.

"We hope to put the finishing touches to the deal with Karl on Thursday morning, while I have signed Gayle because I believe it is important to have three registered goalkeepers at this stage of the season."

Two consecutive away defeats have left Hereford's play-off hopes hanging by a thread and only a victory over Margate would, seemingly, keep their Football League dreams alive.

Turner said: "I couldn't grumble too much with the way in which we played against Barnet. In my view they are much better than their league position suggests."

Influential central defender Tony James is doubtful for the match after picking up a foot injury at Barnet, midfielder Jamie Pitman starts a two-match ban, and striker John Grant completes a three-game suspension.

Turner said: "Margate have been a solid side and I thought that we played very well when we beat them 2-0 at their place in February. In fact, I thought that we deserved more than a two-goal victory that night. But Margate have shown they are a solid side with some good players.

"They will certainly be no mugs and the most important thing for us is to walk off at 4.45pm on Saturday with three points in the bag."

l Turner said that he was shocked by the Conference's decision last week to expand the league to 24 teams and relegate only one team at the end of this season.

The proposal now needs to be agreed by the FA's National Leagues Sanctions Committee in May.