JORDAN Turnbull could be the final piece in Mark Cooper’s defensive masterplan for the new season after he re-signed the Southampton defender on a season-long loan.

The County Ground boss believes that he has enough options at the back with the addition of the 20-year-old, as well as the acquisition of Liverpool youth product Jordan Williams on loan earlier in the transfer window.

Turnbull, who was almost an ever-present in last season’s run to the play-off final, making 45 appearances and scoring once, was introduced straight back into the line-up to face Liverpool yesterday, despite the deal having only been completed on Saturday evening.

Turnbull slotted into a back four, as opposed to the back three he was more accustomed to playing last season, but could not prevent Town falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Premier League outfit.

However, Cooper is delighted to have the Southampton player back and could be looking for another striker before the transfer window closes.

“I met him this morning and he was delighted to be back,” said Cooper.

“I think we are OK now defensively with Jordan coming in, we possibly need another forward in my opinion.

“I think Jordan would have had a say in it, if he was going to be going to a League One club, then I think with location-wise and where he is from, and obviously knowing the place, then we would have been his number one choice.

“It was something that the chairman and I were monitoring. The danger was that he would get a Championship club.

“I think there were one or two interested, which never came to fruition, and we were there waiting to pounce.

“The chairman rang me last night to tell me we’d got him and he complements our good centre-backs, with Raffa (Branco) and Jordan Williams.”