Kevin Blackwell is hoping to strengthen his squad further by acquiring a centre-half by the end of the week.

Luton's lack of cover in the centre of defence was highlighted at Oxford on Monday night when Chris Perry and Chris Coyne played their second successive game in just over 48 hours.

And the Hatters boss is currently in talks with a player and is confident his eighth signing of pre-season could be just around the corner.

Blackwell said: "Perry and Coyne had to play against Oxford, but I am addressing that situation at the moment.

"Hopefully I will have somebody signed by the end of the week. I am currently in talks with someone."

And Blackwell is continuing his search for a goalkeeper although the Luton boss has been impressed by the pre-season form of youngster Dean Brill.

"We are also looking at a goalkeeper, but that might be something we look at as a last thing. Brill has done well in pre-season and he looked good again against Oxford.

Blackwell had 'mixed emotions' after watching his side claim a 2-1 pre-season friendly win against Oxford United.

Although the Hatters boss was happy with the result, he was far from pleased with the goal his side conceded late in the second-half.

Drew Talbot and Dean Morgan scored in the first-half before Alex Jeannin hit a consolation for Oxford late in the second-half.

Blackwell continued: "We did some good stuff. We got on top and their goalkeeper kept them in the game.

"He has made four world class saves and had we scored them we would have been home and dry in the first half.

"Oxford were fairly strong and physical and I want to make sure as many players as possible got 90 minutes.

"Some of the players, I wasn't happy with because of the goal that we conceded. I thought that was a nonsense for me and a naughty for the players to allow that to happen."

Blackwell will now make a late decision on whether to field a strong line-up against Dunstable Town in the final of the Beds Premier Cup on Thursday night.

The fixture, which will be played at Arlesey Football Club, was due to be a mixture of Youth and Reserves, but with the Club having a slightly disrupted pre-season because of the weather, Blackwell may give some of his first-team squad a run out.

Blackwell added: "We are going to have a look at the pitch before we decide on whether the first team players will play in that fixture.

"I am not sure if the pitch is good enough, but if they don't play against Dunstable then they will be involved against Stevenage at the weekend."