Boss John Gregory has hinted trialists Bobson Bawling and Emmet O’Connor are close to earning permanent deals at Crawley.

Bawling and O’Connor caught the eye after coming off the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Fulham at the Checkatrade.com Stadium on Saturday.

The pair also did well in the comfortable victories over Billingshurst and Oakwood with Gregory due to make a decision on their futures after the clash with Albion on Wednesday.

Gregory used six trialists against the Cottagers but it was 18-year-old former Watford winger Bawling and Canadian midfielder O’Connor, 21, that impressed him most.

Gregory said: “All of them did okay but those two in particular have done very well in the pre-season games and on the training ground so will be looking at their situations over the next few days.

“One or two have impressed me since they have been with us and they impressed me again on Saturday so there is a chance we might add them to squad on permanent basis.

“Over the next couple of weeks we need to get another three in at the minimum to get us up to 19 or 20 but we also have to be very careful that we don’t overspend. We are getting close to the budget I have been given by the board and we don’t want to keep our feet wet.”

Former Holland international Collins John did little to enhance his prospects of earning a deal after coming on against his former club on Saturday.

Midfielder Simon Heslop did not feature against Fulham due to injury but Gregory is keen to see him in action again against Albion on Wednesday.