Cotterill's Striker Hunt Hit by Double Setback Cheltenham Town boss Steve Cotterill has vowed to work even harder to strengthen the front end of his team after suffering two setbacks this week. The Cheltenham Town boss has so far brought in six players this summer: a goalkeeper, a left-back, a centre-half, two central midfielders, and a left winger. He has turned his attention to a striker and two wide players ahead of the start of the season, with Cheltenham hosting Charlton Athletic in the Carabao Cup first round in a fortnight's time. He also wants another midfielder and one more defensive addition. One of his centre-forward targets suffered a hamstring injury during a match this week, while another looks set to join a higher-level team. 'It's not good news,' Cotterill said. 'Russ (Milton, chief scout) went to watch the game and the striker we'd been on for three or four weeks ended up with quite a severe hamstring injury, so that one is off the table. We started on another one straight away, upping our interest but it looks like he's now going to a League One club so we are back to square one regarding that position.' Cotterill says he is trying to stay philosophical, but admitted the double blow left him feeling flat. 'It felt like a bit of a kick in the teeth, but you can't be flat for too long because I have a lot of responsibility to the players I have already got and they aren't doing too badly,' he said. 'The squad just needs thickening up a bit in certain areas and we'll carry on. We still have enough time before the window closes and we are not finished with the squad, or where we want to be. But for what we've done, with our budget, it's really good. We just don't have some of the numbers that we are trying to compete with, so we have to be smart and like a dog with a bone, to find these players. It's been a long, hard summer for me, but I am feeling energised by the boys in the dressing room, to keep going and keep looking. I have to make sure I get that squad as strong as I possibly can for the months ahead.' Cotterill was speaking after Saturday's 6-1 friendly win at newly-promoted Southern League Division One South side Slimbridge AFC. Charlie McCann and George Miller both scored twice, with Jordan Shipley and Mark Barber also on target. Slimbridge's goal was a fine strike from Jack Smith to make it 3-1 in the 48th minute. Midfielder Shaun McWilliams, who became a father for the first time during the week, with his partner giving birth to a baby boy, made his first appearance in Cheltenham colours from the start. New goalkeeper Wyll Stanway went on in the second half. Club captain James Wilson missed out again due to a calf injury suffered during a run on the final day of the club's training camp in Spain, but Cotterill hopes to have the centre-half available for the Carabao Cup tie against Charlton on August 8. Next fixture: vs Crawley Town (at home, 2027-02-20) (19th in the table).