JOHN Cornforth has boosted his ranks ahead of tomorrow's Conference South relegation showdown with Havant and Waterlooville by drafting in three new faces to Spytty Park.
Cornforth has swooped to sign long-term target, Swansea midfield schemer Antonio Corbisiero on loan until the end of the season.
He has also signed left-sided midfielder Chris Taylor from League One outfit Swindon Town and 19-year-old Lloyd Grist from Shrewsbury Town on loan until the end of the season.
Taylor, 19, has featured for the reserves this season at Swindon and is a former England U-15 international.
Corbisiero, who had a spell at County on loan earlier in the season, is likely to go straight into the side for tomorrow's game (kick-off 3pm at Spytty Park) and Taylor is also likely to feature.
Manager Cornforth was jubilant at clinching the double deal. "It was a very good day yesterday and it has been no secret that I have been looking to boost my squad," he said. "I like Corbisiero a lot. One of our problems in recent weeks has been giving the ball away, and he is a player who just doesn't do that.
"Corbs keeps the ball, enjoys having it and that should really be an asset for us, plus he has been given a proper football education at Swansea and is an intelligent player.
"Chris Taylor is a player I have watched three or four times. He looks impressive, is composed and crucially is left-footed and our squad lacks for left-sided players.
"When Scott Morgan has been injured in recent weeks I have had to move players all over the shop but Taylor should give us better options on the left and help to balance the side."
Cornforth is under no illusions about tomorrow's game, praising Havant who have improved their league position to move ahead of the relegation pack.
"Havant have some excellent players," Cornforth said. "They have experienced guys like Dean Holdsworth, Robbie Pethick and Peter Fear, players with a lot of league appearances and know-how under their belts.
"But it's a home game and we're improving, we have a spring in our step and we want to improve on our poor second half showing in our last home match."
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