BRIDGWATER Town hope to sign Barnstaple striker Ryan Trudgian in time for Saturday's testing away match with second-placed Brislington (3pm).

The powerful 20-year-old, who had a successful spell on loan with Town in the 2001-02 season, has just been released by Plymouth Argyle. They had farmed him out to Barnstaple for experience.

Town manager, Trevor Senior, gave Barnstaple seven days' notice of approach for the Devon-based forward, soon after his side had won 3-0 at Mill Road on the Saturday before last.

Full report in this week's Mercury sports pages.