Time is running out for Maidstone United to sign a defender.

Jamie Coyle is closing in on a return from a knee injury but United are taking are no chances in their National League South promotion bid.

Coyle believes he's a week away but manager Jay Saunders feels a fortnight is more realistic and is working to get cover for Manny Parry and Callum Davies ahead of Thursday's 5pm transfer deadline.

Saunders said: "I am looking this week at maybe getting someone signed on so we have got cover.

"Other than Bobby-Joe Taylor going left-back, we are short.

"As I said before, we’ve got a couple of lads in the academy but if we can get a little bit of cover there, we’ll look to do something this week.

"I’ve been trying for a month and it’s really hard.

"We’ve got a squad here that’s strong and it’s hard for players to come in and understand they probably won’t play straight away.

"In an ideal world I’d get someone on a dual-reg from a league club or even a Ryman Prem."