League One Peterborough United linked with another Dagenham & Redbridge striker

Peterborough United were last night closing in on the signing of Dagenham & Redbridge frontman Rhys Murphy.

Reports suggested that the Posh have already agreed a fee with the League Two outfit to secure the striker's services. And if the move is completed in time he could make his League One debut this evening when Notts County arrive at London Road.

Boss Darren Ferguson admitted yesterday that he hoped to have added a face to his squad before tonight's clash and also insisted his troops must build on their weekend win over Tranmere Rovers.

'I think that's the important word, confidence, getting that and the belief back.' said Ferguson, whose men picked up their first triumph since before Christmas on Saturday.

'I think you could see that when we went to 2-0 it came back. It was an important result for us on Saturday and it's a big game for us now tonight, they're coming thick and fast at this period of the season, so it's another important game and hopefully we'll get another good result. We've got to try and gather that momentum again. We had a good meeting on Friday, we got a good response on Saturday – I think everyone could see that – and I think it gives everyone a lift because there was a bit of nervousness and edginess in the ground which is understandable.

'But we have to get that confidence and belief back that we're going back into games thinking 'we're going to win this'. Results will do that. It's an important game, we have 20 games left, and we've got to make sure we get as many points as we can.'

Murphy, second top goalscorer in League Two, joined Redbridge on a free from Dutch Division Two side Telstar in the summer. The former Arsenal youth product has scored 12 goals in 25 appearances to attract the attention of a host of clubs. But the 23-year-old looks likely to follow in the footsteps of strikers Dwight Gayle, now at Premier League Crystal Palace, and Craig Mackail-Smith in swapping the Daggers for Posh.

The signing would be Ferguson's first of the January transfer window as Posh look to cement their push for the play-offs. They should be boosted by the return of Lee Tomlin for County's visit but Tommy Rowe is an injury doubt. Their Nottingham-based opponents moved out of the relegation zone at the weekend with a morale-boosting 1-0 victory at basement boys Stevenage Borough but remain just two points off the dreaded drop zone.

Ferguson, also speaking about County's Jack Grealish to his club's official website, added: 'He got injured for them on Saturday I don't know if he's definitely out, but he is one of their better players.

'They've lost the young boy (Callum) McGregor back to Celtic who's done well for them as well. But they've got others that are good players. Shaun Derry's gone in there and sort of got them going again. They had a good result on Saturday at a really tough place. So we'll expect a tough game but as I always try and concentrate on, it's about us, it's a home match and we need to make sure we get the win.'