Dumbarton manager Stevie Aitken is anticipating a busy week as he aims to add to his squad ahead of the start of the Betfred Cup this weekend.

Sons pre-season schedule came to an end on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat to Hearts at the C&G Systems Stadium with the competitive action kicking off this weekend against Lowland League side Spartans.

And with 13 players currently signed to his squad, Aitken is hopeful of adding several more in the coming week. He said: "We'll add to the squad this week. Hopefully by next week we'll have the 17 or 18 that we want.

"If we can get the players in that we're still talking to and get the ones back that were missing today then we'll have a strong squad."

Several trialists have featured for Dumbarton over the pre-season period, some of which Aitken hopes to pursue a deal for.

Andy Little, ex-Rangers forward, Michael Paton, former Aberdeen attacker, Kieran Campbell, formerly of Celtic, Dominic McMeekin, who left Dundee United in the Summer, David Ferguson, last seen playing for Ayr in League One last season, and Jamie McGowan, an ex-Morton goalkeeper are the trialists who have featured for Dumbarton, as well as Iain Russell who agreed a deal after the game on Saturday.

Aitken has offered deals to both Little and McGowan and will sit down with the rest of the trialists this week to discuss their future at the club. He said: "Michael Paton has just came in with us and has only had one training session so he's a wee bit behind in terms of fitness.

"The young lads, Dom and Kieran, their attitude has been first class throughout pre-season and we'll sit down with them this week.

"We've just about agreed a short-term deal with Andy Little. He's come in in pre-season and looked very lively. He's scored goals at this level and higher. It'll suit both parties if it's a short term thing so we can sit down at Christmas and look at each other.

"We've made Jamie an offer as well and by Monday or Tuesday this week we'll get decisions from the ones we're talking too and get them tied up."