DANNY Wilson is confident of strengthening Town’s striking options inside the next week, but revealed he is undaunted at the possibility of starting this season with only Billy Paynter up top.

With just over two weeks before the 2009/10 campaign kicks-off away at Gillingham, Paynter remains the County Ground’s solitary fit front man and has been played in a lone role during Swindon’s pre-season friendlies to date.

The manager admits he has been working overtime to try boost their firepower, and believes the capture of up to two new strikers is “imminent.”

“In an ideal world I would like to bring in one or maybe two more players in that position,” said Wilson.

“The loan market is a realistic one. There’s plenty of players available on loan but you will only get them nearer the start of the season when they can make their decisions.

“We’ve got a couple of options which we hope will be imminent - and by that I mean in a week or so. There are loan issues in that and permanent ones as well.

“(Beginning the season with just Paynter) doesn’t worry me, no, because I think we can do a job where we can set ourselves up and be difficult to get beaten.

“In an ideal world yes, of course we want to help Billy. He can’t play every game at the maximum we would like him to play, it’s just impossible.

“He needs a helping hand up there, but we’ll set ourselves up with whatever personnel we’ve got.”

Wilson has also been impressed with the way teenager Lloyd Macklin has made the step up to senior football.

A prolific scorer for the youth team and reserves last year, Macklin has played a key role in the build up to this season, and the boss has been delighted with what he adds to the squad.

“It’s all very new to Lloyd,” admitted Wilson. “People may underestimate a young lad coming in to first team football and think the transition is easy.

“It’s not easy and there will be decisions he’ll make that he will get wrong. But we’re trying to help him get more decisions right than wrong.

“That will take time, but what he’s got - and it’s something you’re looking for all the time - is natural pace that really causes problems.

“You’ve seen what Alan O’Brien can do with his pace as well and it really is a problem for defenders.”

Meanwhile, former Swindon midfielder Michael Pook has signed a one-year deal with League Two side Cheltenham Town.

The 23-year-old was released from the County Ground in May and spent time on trial at Crewe over the summer, but has opted for a permanent switch to Whaddon Road.