We have 4 league games before the January window closes.
We have lost Beadle and Mills, since the beginning of January, both featured regularly in the first team.
Edwards is out for the season and Perkins has returned to Leeds.
So that’s 3 players Beadle, Mills and Perkins who were available at end of the year and now they are not.
Three available players suddenly missing from an already injury ravaged squad is significant.
Yes I know Perkins wasn‘t being selected but he still needs a replacement, especially as it’s clear O’Donker is only being given 10 minutes here and there in league fixtures. And what of O’Donker, is he going to be part of the squad until the end of the season? if not another player that will need replacing if he goes out on loan.
If we are serious about a promotion push we need a keeper, a winger and a striker minimum PDQ to replace Beadle, Mills and Perkins, now, not at the end of January. Those 4 games and the points they potentially could deliver could be the difference between a playoff spot or not.
If we have to wait for say a further 3 signings until the end of the month, then so be it. But we need reinforcements in to replace the aforementioned 3 players before those 4 crucial January league games.
Yes we have players coming back from injury, but they will have to be managed very carefully and may not be fully up to speed for 2 or 3 games.
With the loss of Mills we suddenly look very bereft of any pace in the side, can we rely on Murphy to be available until the end of the season? History tells us not. One of those 3 we need now before the run of 4 league games needs to be a pacy winger.