SWINDON Town are expected to tie up a season-long loan deal for Jordan Turnbull today after Brad Smith became the Robins’ third summer signing yesterday evening.

Turnbull, the Southampton defender who played in two pre-season friendlies for Town on ‘work experience’, was allowed to be involved in the Robins’ team photo on Tuesday and will add weight to centre of defence, which currently boasts only Raphael Branco and Josh Lelan amongst its ranks.

It was originally believed that Turnbull would be announced as a Swindon player on Thursday, manager Mark Cooper telling the local press that he hoped two new faces would be tied up “by close of play” yesterday.

In the end, however, only Smith was confirmed by Town, on a youth loan, though there is no reason to believe that a deal for Turnbull has hit a snag and the teenager should be available to feature against Scunthorpe United this weekend.

Smith, highly rated by parent club Liverpool, was one of Cooper’s primary transfer targets this summer and will fill the left wing-back slot. He has been allocated the number 11 shirt by Town.

Cooper remains hopeful a third new player can be added before Saturday afternoon.

He and owner Lee Power are waiting on Southampton to grant Jack Stephens permission to move on loan.

Cooper said yesterday: “I think two will definitely be done before Saturday and hopefully one more.

“We’ve not had as many players as we would like in but I would hope, even before Saturday, that we would get one or two in.

On the long wait for new signings, Cooper said: “It’s frustrating but it’s just the way it is. It can’t be helped. You can see the kind of players we’ve been going for and they’re very well thought of by their clubs. We’re at the beck and call of their managers because if they don’t want to let them out at a certain time we can’t do anything about it.

“We have to be patient because they’re the ones we want. We’re not going to cry about it and if we have to wait to get the ones that we want, we have to wait.”

Nathan Thompson has been handed the full-time captaincy of the club after fulfilling the role for the final dozen games of last season.

Highly-rated academy midfielder Tyreke Johnson has revealed that he has signed for Southampton on a four-year contract.

Johnson is part of a formidable year group in the County Ground’s development programme and impressed in the Robins’ FA Youth Cup adventure last season.

He tweeted: “Joined Southampton on a 4year deal,would like to thank Swindon for all the opportunities given.”

DON'T FORGET MATCHDAY LIVE FROM THE OPENING LEAGUE ONE MATCH OF THE SEASON AGAINST SCUNTHORPE AT THE COUNTY GROUND TOMORROW AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT