Davies has been working hard in a bid to secure the services of striker Eddie Johnson so that he can play for the Blues against the Londoners at the Deva Stadium (3pm kick-off).

City, who are still searching for their first points of the season, are keen to strengthen their striking options ahead of Monday's transfer window deadline.

Davies believes Chester-born Johnson, who has been on trial at the club for the last three weeks, fits the bill after targetman John Murphy's departure to League of Ireland club, St Patrick's Athletic earlier this month.

He said: "We're close to signing Eddie Johnson so that he can play for us tomorrow.

"Like most other clubs, I think the deal will go right down to the line, but I'm hoping to get something sorted out today so that he can play a part for us tomorrow.

"Kevin Ellison has been playing ever so well for us in attack and he may stay in that role for now, but we've got the option of playing Ryan (Lowe) in the hole or Kevin out on the left if we bring Eddie in.

"Paul Taylor is getting better with time but he just needs coaching because he's very raw. He's got a lot of talent, but he just needs time to settle.

"If we can't get Eddie in for this weekend, then maybe Paul would feature, but we'll see how that goes.

"We've sorted most of the bits and bobs out with Eddie, we're now just waiting to see if a player or two will be going the other way.

"Two or three of our players have been told that their chances of playing are going to be limited, but we are working hard to find them another club and we're close to doing that with one player."

Davies revealed that midfielder Mark Hughes would be in the mix for tomorrow's match after turning down a move to Barnet earlier this month.
He added: "The Barnet manager Paul Fairclough was interested in signing Mark Hughes and we gave him permission to speak to the player.

"But Barnet pulled the carpet from beneath Mark's feet at the last minute and it messed Mark up which didn't create an ideal situation.

"But Mark has worked hard since, he's been a total professional and I would say he's probably the best professional at the club in terms of work-rate and the way he conducts himself around the place."

Davies identified tomorrow's match against Barnet as an opportunity to start a run of good form.

He said: "Tomorrow's home game provides us with an opportunity to get some points on the board, but first and foremost we've got to make sure we give ourselves a chance in terms of not conceding early goals which is something we've been guilty of in recent games.

"It has been frustrating because we haven't had the rub of the green and we need to stamp out individual errors.

"The players are honest as the day is long and they don't mean to make the mistakes. Everything I have been asking of the players in training and the hours we have been putting in shows that they care, and we always work harder when things are going wrong.

"The players had organised a day out two or three weeks ago, but without me saying anything, they cancelled it themselves because they felt they didn't deserve it.

"They are an honest bunch and if they continue to think along those lines I'm sure things will change, hopefully tomorrow.

"We've got two home games on the trot and I'm certain that if we beat Barnet tomorrow then we can go on a bit of a run which would lift us.

"Barnet have got some height, they've got some quality, and they've got Adam Birchall who is a nippy lad among their bigger players. They have also got weaknesses at the back and I think we can cause them some problems with the quality players we have in attack."