UPDATED: New signings set for Hatters debuts against Nuneaton

Having netted centre-half Franks from Welling on a permanent deal and teenage sensation McGeehan on a month’s loan from Premier League Norwich City, Town chief John Still confirmed they are both in the frame to face Boro at the weekend.

On whether there was a chance they might be handed their debuts, Still said: “There might be.”

And he believes Town have bolstered sensibly, as he continued: “We’re in a position where we’ve strengthened at the right times in the right areas to make sure we can cover for injuries.

“I think with the transfer window going to close next week we can still loan a week after that.”

The signing of Franks is particularly handy as Still revealed he also has the ability to fill in at right-back, where Town are lacking depth.

He said: “I just wanted to make sure that we were covered. The beauty of Fraser as well is that he can play right-back so that’s something else I always had in mind, someone that can do two jobs.”

And Still admitted that he has been a fan of the defender for some time and followed his career with interest.

“I’ve known Fraser as a player for some time and I’ve always kept my eye on him, because I’ve always liked him,” said Still.

“He’s always had something about him, I’ve liked him, and I think when he left Wimbledon he was in a funny situation because he’d played well at Wimbledon and obviously got injured.

“And when they got in the League he had to try and find somewhere else and he went to Welling and did really, really well and I thought got his best form back.

“So he was always one I had in my mind, but being at the club he was at and contracted - it’s about the right time.

“When I first knew him I wasn’t here, it wasn’t something that would have been done here.

“But gradually as we got going, particularly this year, and the situation we found ourselves in with Alex Lacey and (Andy) Parry that can play there, and Anthony Charles, I just felt we needed a permanent centre-half, but I wanted to get the right one.

“I actually wanted to try and get a young one, but not an inexperienced one, and Fraser’s played lots of football at this level.

“So it just all fell into place, I made the inquiry, they had an agreement with him that if someone came in for him they had a fixed fee for his services, which wasn’t really significant, it was reasonable.

“Once we got the green light with that it went through pretty quickly.”

Having seen the likes of Joe Davis recalled by Port Vale after a successful loan spell at Kenilworth Road, Still was keen to get some permanent cover at the back.

And, after triggering that clause in his contract, he praised the way the Wings dealt with the deal.

Still added: “I think it was written in his contract, but they were very easy to deal with. They were very good Welling.

“I know the people at Welling really well and they didn’t put any obstacles in the way because they felt it was the right opportunity for him as well.

“That all went smoothly and that’s been a big plus for us, because Anthony Charles is back now, and I think he’s played three games, but he’s had quite a bit of injury.

“And I think he’s still a little bit behind and the last thing I wanted to do was rush him back. We’ve got Ryan Inniss here on loan and, as we know from when we had Joe Davis here and Alfie Mawson, when their loan’s up they can take them back and there’s nothing you can do about that.

“So it was always a case of if we could find the right permanent one, that we would do that.”