Crawley boss Dean Saunders is hoping to further strengthen his squad before the weekend after securing the services of veteran defender Darren Ward.

Ward is due to complete his loan move from Swindon Town for the rest of the season today and will go straight into the side for tomorrow’s home game against MK Dons.

Saunders swooped for the 36-year-old former Crystal Palace and Millwall centre-back with Dean Leacock and Ryan Dickson both ruled out through injury. The interim Reds manager also ran the rule over striker Rory Boulding and winger Andy Robinson, along with a number of other trialists, in training yesterday but has yet to make a final decision on any of them.

Boulding, 26, is a free agent after his short-term deal at Falkirk came to an end this month while Robinson, 35, was released by Shrewsbury last month following a knee injury.

Saunders said: “We are still short of numbers so I need to get some players in quickly. Whether I can get players to agree to sign for us before the deadline for Saturday I don’t know.

“We had quite a few lads on trial yesterday and I have told them if they do well I will offer them something.

“We might get one more in but for now I am happy to have signed Darren. We only went into the last game with one defender so I felt I had to do something really quickly."

Ward was captain at Swindon last season but has not made a single appearance this year and was told he was free to leave the County Ground.

The 36-year-old’s last competitive game was back in March but Saunders is confident he can hit the ground running tomorrow as Crawley bid to end an 11-game winless streak.

The Reds boss added: “I’m not concerned Darren hasn’t played this season as he is a fitness fanatic and experience tells you what to do when you get older. You can use your brain to get you out of trouble.

“Darren is a really experienced player and will be like a coach on the pitch which I felt we needed as we are a young outfit.

“Darren played in the Premier League and played in a Cup final for Millwall so at his age he has learnt everything and seen everything.

“Look at his appetite and is he still up for the battle. Doesn’t matter how old you are if you can do the job.”

Meanwhile, Saunders has dismissed speculation linking Crawley with a potential move for former England striker Andrew Johnson following his release by Crystal Palace at the start of the month.

The Reds boss has also said he has not spoken to ex-Newcastle and Cardiff forward Michael Chopra – who he worked with at Newcastle – about the possibility of joining the club from Indian outfit Kerala Blasters.