WINCHESTER City boss Ian Saunders is chasing the signature of frontman Dan Simmonds for the second time in four months.

City last week lodged seven days’ notice of approach for the striker with Saunders’s old club Petersfield Town.

Simmonds had barely settled in at Love Lane following his July move from Southern Combination League side Wick before Saunders, the man who had signed him, left to join Winchester.

Prior to penning forms at Petersfield, Simmonds had built a reputation as a feared goalscorer in the Sussex area and Winchester fans will remember him for netting the Rams’ equaliser in the recent 1-1 FA Trophy draw at the Denplan City Ground.

With the seven days due to expire today, Winchester are hoping to get something moving before Saturday’s Southern One South & West trip to Taunton Town.

The Citizens created enough chances to have got something out of Tuesday’s league game at Shortwood United, but came away on the end of a 2-1 defeat.

Underlining the need for extra firepower, director of football Dave Malone said: “As we saw the other night, we need someone who can put the ball in the back of the net.

“We’ve got to address that problem and we’re hopeful of bringing Dan Simmonds in.

“He’s quite a well-built lad, energetic, with plenty to say for himself.

“When we lost Warren Bentley in the summer we looked around and said who is going to score our goals. We thought Sam Wilson would do it, but Sam's had some niggling injuries and hasn't really got in the groove yet.”

Wilson is almost certainly ruled out for Saturday after an accident at work, but City are hopeful of having defender Jamie Ford fit again after a toe injury.

Hosts Taunton are on a high having seen off higher league Hemel Hempstead 1-0 in midweek to reach the FA Cup first round proper for the first time in 35 years.

The Peacocks are 15th in the S&W, two points shy of 13th-placed City, but have three games in hand.