JOHN Coleman has a number of transfer targets - and January can't come soon enough for the Accrington Stanley chief
The Reds are low on numbers despite extending Joe Jacobson's loan spell from Cardiff City for another month and defender Rikki Baines returning from a loan spell at Leek Town.
Cardiff loanee Curtis McDonald has gone back to Wales while defender Adam Dugdale has returned to Crewe after a month with the Reds.
And injuries have left Stanley ravaged with striker Leighton McGivern the latest to be ruled out after breaking a bone in his ankle at Macclesfield and he could be out for three months.
Peter Cavanagh (knee), Andy Tretton (knee) and Rommy Boco (back) are all long-term casualties.
"It is a nightmare but there is no point bleating about it," said Coleman. "Joe Jacobson will stay. He has been playing out of position on the left wing but has done well.
"We also have Shaun Whalley and Rocky (Robbie Williams) back from suspension. I think we will have 16 players so we will just about have enough."
Despite the dwindling numbers, Coleman says there is no recall for striker David Brown who has extended his deal at Burton for another month while Sean Doherty is still at Southport.
And the manager reiterated his desire to bring more players in next month. "We had 22 players at the start of the season and we want a striker more than ever now. We have got a couple of targets but we don't know if we will get them. Everyone is in the same boat."
He admitted he was upset to miss out on Morecambe winger Michael Twiss who has signed a new deal at Christie Park which will keep him there until 2010.
"It was a disappointment but it is something which is out of our hands," added Coleman.
Names being banded about are York's 15-goal striker Clayton Donaldson whose contract is up in the summer and he has just turned down a new deal while Stevenage have rejected an offer from Peterborough for highly-rated winger George Boyd.
