Damiano is an 18-year old striker, who has scored 16 goals in 21 games for Mexican side Monterrey, and it is thought that it will cost very little to secure the signing of Mitra. It will also provide a boost to the firepower of the Hatters, with Vine's future uncertain, Feeney still to settle into the team properly at Luton and with Enoch and Howard untried in this division. There will also be a lot of competition for places if Mitra signs, as there will be at least four senior strikers in the squad. However, the signing of Mitra may depend on whether the Town are successful in their attempts to sign Rowan Vine from Portsmouth
De Wilde is a 26-year old midfielder who has played with Eendract Aalst and Lierse in Belgium but is currently training with the Hatters. Again, he could provide more competition for places, and if he impresses Mike Newell and Brian Stein, then it would mean there would be seven first-team midfielders in the squad (Nicholls, Brkovic, Underwood, Robinson, Holmes, Edwards and this bloke), with Foley and Keane also able to play in midfield.
Any additional signings that Mike Newell decides to make could be crucial to our league position next season. Last season, we had the best 11 players in the league, but our main problem was our strength in depth, as once one of these eleven players got injured or suspended, then we didn't have the quality to replace them properly, which means that strength in depth and the development of more youngsters (following in the footsteps of Davies and Foley, who have both prospered under Newell) could hold the key to survival in the Championship. Although Carlos Edwards may be optimistic about a push for the play-offs next season, surely the main aim is to stay up next season, or am I just being pessimistic?