SWINDON Town boss Phil Brown has missed an opportunity to sign a young Premier League starlet, but remains in dialogue with three loan targets including Shrewsbury winger Abo Eisa.

Brown, 59, is looking to add to his defensive options on the left and has failed to rule out the addition of a new striker.

It had been rumoured on social media that Shrews’ Eisa – brother of Bristol City forward Mohamed – was linked with a loan move to the County Ground after Brown had declared an interest in the 22-year-old.

Speaking ahead of his side’s home tie against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday, Brown confirmed he has enquired to Shrewsbury about Eisa – adding his addition would boost Town’s options on the left side of midfield.

He said: “I understand where that rumour has come from regarding social media.

“I have been interested in Eisa with a recommendation from somebody whose judgement I value very much.

“I made an enquiry, but it would only be for a loan period at this moment in time.

“He plays on the left and has pace, he went to Wealdstone and scored a lot of goals.

“He’d be a nice addition to the squad and provide us with an extra option on the left-hand side of midfield.”

Meanwhile Brown has been boosted this week by the return of Marc Richards to the training ground while defender Dion Conroy is also available for selection this weekend, despite suffering from a jarred knee following last week’s trip to Lincoln.

However, it’s likely to be at least three weeks until Kaiyne Woolery can return to the training ground while Chris Robertson will also be out of action until the end of the month.

The length of Woolery’s time on the sidelines is what’s tempting Brown into adding another forward to his ranks, as he continues to search the loan market for options at either end of the pitch.

“Marc has been training all week, he’s had a real battering of a week,” said Brown.

“We’ll have to tone it down on Friday, but he’s physically gone through collisions, falling, tumbling, weight programmes and running programmes.

“To start him would be a risk, but it might be a worthwhile risk seeing as we’ve only scored one goal from open play.

“I’ve got to be thinking of Marc Richards when it comes to the next 44 games though.

“To get him in peak condition might take another two weeks, but he’s involved for Saturday.

“Kaiyne (Woolery) is coming along, but not nicely.

“If Woolery was at the same stage as Richards that would be brilliant news and probably save us from having to push for another striker.

“At the same time, the defensive situation is of paramount importance to us.”