Padraig Amond & Mark Hughes training with Morecambe

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley wants to sign striker Padraig Amond and defender Mark Hughes after confirming both are currently training with the club.

Amond and Hughes are free agents after leaving Accrington and Bury respectively at the end of last season.

"Padraig is a player I'm keen on. I think we need another forward player and he's got goals at this level," Bentley told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"He's with us, as is Mark. It would be good to get both of them on board."

The Shrimps boss continued: "We've had to make cutbacks here and there, but there's a little bit left in the budget and it's just how I spread it to get the balance right."

Amond, 25, scored nine goals in 39 appearances for Stanley last season, while 26-year-old centre-back Hughes had a loan spell at the Store First Stadium towards the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

Bentley is about to begin his third full season in charge at the Globe Arena. He has guided the Lancashire club to final positions of 15th and 16th in League Two - a division he believes will be strong again next term.

"You can see that with the signings that a lot of the other clubs are making," added Bentley.

"The likes of Mansfield are strengthening considerably, and there are big teams coming down in Portsmouth and Bury, who seem to have got over their money problems.

"We've got young lads and we've got to be careful not to expect too much. We'll have our ups and downs, like we did last season and the season before. We've just got to make sure we all stick together and enjoy the ride."