CHESTER boss Neil Young is stepping up his bid to sign a new striker.

Young is keen to secure the services of another centre forward on the back of loan striker Nick Rogan’s last appearance for the Blues before his return to Fleetwood Town.

Young’s attempts to sign Chris Simm from Southport earlier this month were thwarted when the experienced striker decided to join Division One North rivals, Chorley.

Young said: “Nick Rogan played his final game on loan for us at Salford and he will go back to Fleetwood. I haven’t chosen to extend his loan at this moment, but we all wish him well for the remainder of the season.

“I know people have been crying out for me to look at forwards, but I believe at the moment we have enough.

“Yes, I would like another, but what I am not going to do is get somebody who is not better than what I have.

“I have got Michael Wilde and Rob Hopley, plus Roger Sharrock, Greg Stones, Mark Peers and Iain Howard can all play off the front, so there’s no point in just signing someone.

“Top strikers at our level don’t come cheap so if we are going to delve in I and the club have got to make sure that we’re going to spend the Chris Simm money in the correct way, and make sure we don’t waste it.

“I’m looking to improve all the time and I’ve spoken to a couple of clubs about centre forwards, but they either don’t want to do deals or the money they want is absolutely ridiculous. But we’ll bide our time and if need be I’ll take somebody on loan.

“There are options in the pipeline that I’m hoping will materialise in the next 10 days, but if I’m going to spend money I’ll be spending it correctly.

“I’m not just going to dive in and add a name to what I already have because that would be pointless.”

Young, who saw the Blues secure fourth spot in the league table with a 4-0 victory at Salford City on Saturday, revealed he would provide another opportunity for prolific marksman Carl Gargan next month.

He added: “Carl came on for the last 20 minutes of our cup tie at Leek last week and he’s away on work business until October 2, but I’ve agreed with his club, Old Xaverians, that he will be with us for a month from October 3.

“We’ve got to first of all get him up to the fitness levels of the rest of the lads, but we’ll be giving him every opportunity to impress.

“He has already showed me the bits and bobs he has to offer the team and the squad, so it’s only fair to the lad that we get him up to the fitness levels of the rest of the lads, and then we’ll let him prove to us what he can do.

“He’s been a prolific goalscorer during the last two seasons, scoring 29 goals last season, and he’s already scored seven this season.

“It’s an opportunity for him to work with us for a month and hopefully he’ll kick-on.”

Praising his versatile squad for keeping clean sheets in their last two fixtures, Young said he was hoping to see the return of Andy Burgess, Roger Sharrock and Stuart Graves for Saturday’s home match against Prescot Cables.

He added: “I still feel we are very naive at times and we still have work to do. But we have a lot of experienced lads and I have to give them a lot of credit for our league and cup wins during the last week.

“We haven’t conceded a goal, and we’ve scored six, after playing 18 or 19 different players, which is good news for me because I know I can bring people in and take people out and still get consistency.

“I’m hoping to get Andy Burgess and Stuart Graves back this week, but Roger Sharrock is suffering with a back problem.

“And I’m looking forward to seeing Richard Foulkes in action because he fits the bill for me. He’s got two great feet but he probably doesn’t believe in himself enough. I’m hoping we can give him that self belief.

“A fit Richard Foulkes would be one of the best midfielders in this league.

“It might take him to around Christmas time to settle in, but Chester fans will then see a very gifted player.”