Ian McParland will today be putting the final touches to the preparations for tomorrow's League Two encounter at Barnet - and he is expecting a tough encounter at Underhill.

And he admits his sides' 1-0 FA Cup triumph at Sutton United was vital - as his side halted a run of three straight defeats.

He has praised the Bees for their recent form after a very tough start to the season.

"It was massively important to win last week, especially after a few teams came a cropper against non-league opposition," he said.

"It was tough down there, but we were always in control and we got our rewards in the end with a superb team move leading up to Richard Butcher's goal.

"Regardless of who we were playing, it was good to come in on a Monday morning after winning a game.

"And this weekend we take on Barnet who have picked up of late and are playing very well.

"They had a tough start to the season - I wouldn't have minded playing them a few months ago - and Underhill is always a tricky place to go.

"We're hitting them at a bad time perhaps, but it is down to us to go down there and get a result."

With new signing Jonathan Forte in the squad after signing on loan for a month from Scunthorpe yesterday McParland has revealed it was by a stroke of fortune that he was able to sign the 22-year-old.

He revealed: "I just happened to be speaking to someone at Scunthorpe the other day and they think very highly of him.

"They wanted to get him out on a month's loan and get him ready for their Christmas programme. At the minute it is very short-term, because they want him back.

"So I said we would take him on loan for a month, and I just feel during the season so far we have lacked that raw pace alongside Delroy Facey or Sean Canham.

"Both hold the ball up well and Jamie Forrester is a clever player but he doesn't have that pace I think has been lacking.

"To freshen things up I thought it would be good to bring someone in with pace, and I hope he can unsettle opposition defences.

"I'm sure it will be a good move for him and also for us. We've got some very good options in the team - and especially after using the loan market.

"I hope we can get on a good run now with the players we have. I believe this is the time to kick-on."

Forrester, who missed last weekend's Cup win at Sutton with a back problem, trained with the squad on Thursday and is back in the squad for tomorrow's game.

On the latest injury news, the Notts boss said: "Stephen Hunt is coming back but he needs games at the minute so he won't be involved, and Gavin Strachan is a few weeks away with his hamstring injury.

"We don't know for sure, but I'm hoping next week we could have Michael Johnson back from his toe problem but we'll have to see.

"Jamie Forrester trained yesterday and looked sharp - so that is very good news."