NOTTS County have agreed a deal to sign another defender and he will be unveiled at Meadow Lane once he passes a club medical.

The Magpies also hope to tie up a deal for 20-year-old centre-back Krystian Pearce by the end of the week, to further strengthen their defence that has already been bolstered by the arrival of former Chelsea left-back Jon Harley.

The club's chief executive Jim Rodwell began negotiations with Pearce's agent yesterday and Short is confident of landing the former England youth international.

Pearce will not play in tonight's pre-season friendly against Stoke City at Meadow Lane (7.45pm).

"We don't want him to play well and be snapped up by another club. We have to get something sorted out before he plays," said Short.

"It would be nice to get the deal done by the end of the week."

The Magpies host Cardiff City on Saturday (3pm) and Sheffield United on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Having already made five new signings this summer, Short believes his squad is steadily taking shape.

"It has been a slow process but we are nearly there now," he added. "We want a squad of 21 players, including the goalkeepers, but that is not set in stone.

"It will be nice to get the permanent signings in place before the first game (against Huddersfield on August 7).

"I don't want too big a squad because we have not got a reserve team here and players get very unhappy."

Trialists, defender Mansour Assoumani and striker Jeremiah Ani, have both left Meadow Lane while Dundee United striker Kevin Smith will stay until the end of this week and will start against Stoke.

He has got one year left on his contract with the Tangerines but is available on a free transfer.