Stevenage are in advanced talks for two more players but manager Steve Evans is not expecting movement just yet.

Boro start their League One campaign on Saturday with a trip to Northampton Town and the boss admitted, like most managers, he would probably be happier with another week of preparation.

That is because he is still finalising his squad and has two more in his crosshairs to get over the line.

"We're hoping for two more," said Evans. "Now whether that is going to happen before Saturday? Probably not.

"Do the conversations between myself and the players and Leon and his opposite number at those clubs continue? Yes they do.

"It wouldn't overly surprise me if we have a new player in the building this afternoon or tomorrow morning but I'm not expecting it.

"We still have funds in our budget, we've been very careful, very prudent with what we've done.

"The chairman was reminding us yesterday that he expects us to to use that but appropriately, as we've done all summer, and we will if we get the right players."

He has already secured a double swoop this week, bringing in defender Finley Burns on loan from Manchester City and signing Aaron Pressley on a two-year deal from Brentford.

And while he always remained positive, it is always nice to see the deals get across the line.

He said: "We all thought they would happen but when you’re dealing with Manchester City, things don’t happen in a day. 

"That's nothing to do with the football side but they are such a big club that is involved in such big business that we're probably a little pawn in a much bigger game for them. 

"But they have treated us with the upmost respect and when Leon asked could we have this done, it was done rapidly from our point of view. 

"It was the opposite thing with Aaron. He was in America with the Brentford first-team squad so it was the weekend before Aaron was back in the country. 

"Again though, we always thought that we could have him here but we also understood that there was a lot of competition for both signatures, in particular Aaron’s. 

"But we remained hopeful we can get something done. 

"Aaron was keen to make it happen, he told us last week, but until players have signed a contract and signed their allegiance, you never know. 

"I've heard the stories of players being in the training ground, the medical is completed and they go for a shower and never come back, they go and sign somewhere else. 

"That's the nature of the game because it's such a short career for these young men, they have to make sure they're doing what's right for them."

And Evans is excited to have the two promising youngsters under his wing.

He said: "They’re good people that have been brought up well and sensibly. 

"Both are keen to do very well in their own careers and they have fitted into the group very well. 

"Neither are what you’d describe as extroverts, they go about the business quietly, but I've seen both play with my own eyes and I've always said these are not pickled onions. 

"Some people may think they are but they're not. 

"My first judgement is always my eyes and the second judgement is my staff. 

"And it's always wise these days to take up references from lads that have been in the changing room with those players. 

"The Brentford one was easy and I didn't need to speak to anyone at Manchester City because if Pep [Guardiola] has played a player in the first team, he's got to think you've got a lot of ability and more importantly, he just demands they have the right attitude. 

"Finley went to Swansea and they played more akin to Manchester City's style than what we do.

"But I think what was identified at Manchester City is they wanted him to go into an environment where it was more physical, more of a demand placed on you as an individual in a smaller squad type of environment.

"So I think that's why we ticked all the boxes from a Manchester City point of view.

"And from our point of view, the box was easy to tick because how good he is.

"Aaron has all the attributes that Ivan Toney had when I first watched him.

"I've followed his progress. We tried to get him here in January when he chose to go to Accrington.

"He wanted to play in League One rather than League Two, and I get that, but he gets a big opportunity now to come and play with a team that will play to a lot of his strengths."