The January transfer window is now little over a fortnight away from opening and Bolton Wanderers are poised to be active in the market.
Having suffered several injuries and also some player departures in the first half of the League One campaign, reinforcements are on the cards in the month ahead.
Ian Evatt is looking at the loan market as part of this and utlilising the academies of Premier League clubs to bring in extra bodies to the Wanderers squad.
READ MORE: Bolton Wanderers stance on Ali Crawford's January window St Johnstone transfer confirmed
Bolton sit 15th at present in the League One table, seven points above the relegation zone and 11 from the play-offs as things stand.
But as was shown with last January, getting recruitment right and bringing in the right players can have a dramatic impact, as was illustrated by the signings of Kieran Lee, MJ Williams, Declan John and Dapo Afolayan in particular.
Here, we've picked out the three areas of the Wanderes squad which could well be high on the list for incomings when the market opens in January.
Central midfield
One area of the squad where Evatt looked spoilt for choice above all others at the start of the campaign has perhaps now become the area which requires the greatest attention.
In central midfield, Wanderers currently have MJ Williams and Andrew Tutte as more defensive options, with the latter currently out injured but closing in on a return from a torn hamstring.
Ahead of them in more advanced roles are Kieran Lee and George Thomason, but that's it at the moment.
In terms of other players, Josh Sheehan is out for the season as he recovers from a ruptured ACL, a big blow for Wanderers after the summer signing had a bright start to life in a Bolton shirt.
Antoni Sarcevic was the club captain and a regular in the heart of midfield, but departed in October in a shock move to Stockport County.
And Brandon Comley, who was not registered in Bolton's League One squad and fits into more the role that Williams and Tutte can play, has left the club and is now a free agent.
AFC Wimbledon's Anthony Hartigan is reportedly a target in the middle of the park and it is certainly an area of the squad when reinforcements are needed and become the number one priority, it could be argued.
Centre forward
Another area where Wanderers could perhaps benefit from another body is in the centre forward department.
Eoin Doyle has remained as Evatt's preferred first choice option to lead the line through the middle for Wanderers.
The 33-year-old bagged 19 goals last campaign as Wanderers won promotion out of League Two.
This season, Doyle has scored seven times in all competitions so far, but only four of these have come in League One with the Irishman struggling to find the ruthless streak in front of goal this season.
Others who have filled that role at times have included Amadou Bakayoko and Elias Kachunga, but both are more typically used as wide players, while the former has had limited time on the pitch this season owing to injuries.
At the end of the summer transfer window, Wanderers' attempts to bring in another forward player ended in disappointment and one who can play centrally and provide competition for Doyle might not go amiss on Bolton's January shopping list.
Right-back
Gethin Jones has been out since early October with a fractured fibula and is not expected to return back until the start of January at the earliest.
The former Everton trainee is the club's first choice at right-back and would be expected to slot straight back into the team upon his return.
The potential for another player who can play in that position has probably been highlighted by the options who have filled Jones' boots since his injury lay off.
Harry Brockbank has suffered injuries and failed to convince when given game time this season, while Liam Gordon has also filled the role but is primarily a left-back.
The currently injured Lloyd Isgrove has done a sound job at times, but is a winger first and foremost and Evatt has revealed the player does not particularly like playing at right-back, despite doing a job for his team and his manager.
All things considered, another back-up right-back might be an option, but it is arguably lower down on the list of transfer priorities for the upcoming month.
