Leam Richardson was hoping to boost his strike options ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Northampton.

The Stanley boss had plans to bring in two frontmen – one on loan and one a free agent – as the 13th-placed Reds aim to move back towards the play-off spots.

"We are looking to bring two players in but it’s whether it comes off before Saturday," said Richardson. "I think the fans will be happy with both if we can sign them."

It could mean, however, that the Stanley manager may have to send some of his loan players back to their parent clubs to free up some of the budget, particularly as only five loanees are permitted in a matchday squad.

Meanwhile, Richardson has told the likes of Toto Nsiala, Bohan Dixon, Craig Lindfield, Aidan Chippendale, Luke Clark and James Gray that they are likely to get their chance in the first team again with fixtures piling up.

"I have told all the lads to keep fit," said the Stanley chief. "We play seven games this month and have a number of games in December so everyone should have a chance to play their part and all need to be ready to come in when called upon."

Richardson is currently on a three-game unbeaten run after taking over following Paul Cook’s departure to Chesterfield, but his side got lucky in the goalless derby with Morecambe on Tuesday with Ian Dunbavin saving an injury-time Richard Brodie penalty.

Defender Rob Atkinson, who extended his loan spell from Fleetwood recently, said they owed a lot to Dunbavin, who is in a rich vein of form.

"It was a good point but the performance was not the most pleasing," said Atkinson, with Stanley being something of a jinx club for Morecambe – they have not beaten the Reds in their last 11 league encounters, a run stretching back to 2005.

"They created lot of chances and we owe Bavs a lot of gratitude for pulling off some magnificent saves and keeping us in the game.

"I know Richard Brodie from when he was on loan at

Fleetwood last season and I had confidence he would score as he practised penalties a lot and you do fear the worst.

"But it was a tremendous save from Bavs, although I won’t be giving him my clean-sheet bonus!

"It’s a point away from home and we will take that. "

Atkinson has settled into the Reds backline and is playing well, admitting: "I am enjoying playing games, I am pleased with how I am playing and I will get better with the number of games I play. As a team, we have picked up in the last few matches as well.

"We lost four on the bounce but we have hopefully come through that – we are unbeaten in three and want to carry that on.

"All the lads are talking about how, with the games coming thick and fast, we can quickly move up the table if we put a run together and so that’s what we are aiming to do.

"Leam is the new manager now and he is a good appointment and I am pleased to be here."

The Reds are also looking forward to an FA Cup second round tie at home to Oxford United on December 1 after they overcame Evo-Stik side AFC Fylde on Saturday, thanks to Will Hatfield’s four goals.

Oxford hammered the Reds 5-0 in the league last month and Atkinson said: "We know we can’t play any worse than we did at Oxford so it’s at home and we fancy ourselves at home against any club in the same league.

"We owe ourselves and the fans a performance against them and we want to get to the third round and draw a big club."