St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has maintained that a striker will be the priority if he is to dip into the transfer market when the window opens next month.
But the Perth boss has revealed he would also be keen to pick up a wide left player if finances at McDiarmid Park allow.
In terms of adding to the team, much will be down to the status of crocked striker Steven MacLean, who is continuing his recovery from knee surgery and could potentially be back at Wright’s disposal next month.
So it looks very much like Wright will have to leave things close to the wire in January before he knows what his options are.
“A striker is probably a priority but in saying that we’ll have a fair idea of when Macca is going to be back before the window opens,” he said.
“He’ll come off the crutches and then he’ll start light rehab, although the concern with Macca is that it takes longer than expected.
“The doctors are saying six weeks from when he comes off the crutches, and once he comes off those that takes you up to the end of January,” said Wright.
“So the timing of Macca getting back will decide whether or not we’ll get another striker, and the awkward thing is that the time of him coming back is almost bang on the deadline for the window.
“If there was any mishap in the last week of the window with him then that might cause us a problem.
“But it’s down to money. A striker is the priority but I would also like a wide left player.
“I’ll be making a case that we might have to strengthen, and the chairman has been good, but we’ve got to keep an eye on the finances.
“It’s difficult to get a striker in the window, no matter what level you are at. Strikers are hard to come by at any time so it’s really difficult particularly in January.”
Saints are eagerly-awaiting this weekend’s trip to Edinburgh after Saturday’s washout at Firhill, and midfielder Lee Croft could come back into contention after playing in Tuesday’s under-20 game against Dundee United.
Defender Steven Anderson may also be in the squad to play Hibs, while winger Gwion Edwards will be looking for another chance to shine after seeing his return to the starting line-up curtailed by the weekend’s incessant rain.
Edwards was just one of the players who seemed to deal with the horrendous conditions better than most in the 45 minutes that were played, and Wright was happy with his side’s efforts up until the half-time abandonment.
“I thought we were the better team and we adapted to the conditions better, so from that point of view we were disappointed the game didn’t continue,” he said.
“But the referee has got a lot of responsibility for player safety, so I would never question a decision where he puts player safety at the top of his list.”