Jefferies will add with caution

29/12/13: JJ - "Your fear is that you upset your philosophy of youth. We don't want to go down the other path again."

Despite a good run with eight unbeaten and only one defeat in the last eleven games - Rangers being the only one to beat the Pars - Jim Jefferies is aware that the January transfer window is an opportunity to strengthen his squad. The Manager told the website that he would do that with caution:-

"We have been in good form and there is a buzz about the place. The supporters are now seeing that they have a good young team. They will take a hit or two, and have taken a hit or two with results like East Fife (October), Arbroath (August) and Forfar (October). We are learning though from those mistakes, making them less and less and we have a more settled side.

"We have been fortunate that up until this game coming that we have not had a lot of injury problems. At the moment we have four on the treatment table which doesn't help with a small squad and that means that we have to bring in even younger players. That is what we have to do until we get the ban lifted. Then maybe we can get the support to do something in the market.

"Your fear is that you upset your philosophy of youth. We don't want to go down the other path again."

From 1st January the Pars age limit ban on signing players over 21 is lifted. Only one more loan player can come in since with Ryan Scully on loan from Partick Thistle and the three from Dundee United - Ryan Ferguson, Luke Johnston and Jordan Moore - of whom only the latter can stay, that leaves only one place remaining of the complement of five allowed in a season.

"We are keeping Jordan Moore, Luke Johnston has already gone to play regular football at Montrose and Fergie is wanting to do the same."

Who and when any new faces come in depends upon resources and availability. Jefferies is never one to show his hand willingly on signing targets but he continued:-

"I know the Club would like to strengthen a couple of positions but at the same time I do not want them doing it knowing that they don't have the resources to do it. You do not want to end up back in the same position as we were in a year ago.

"I think the forthcoming Scottish Cup tie against Rangers has relaxed everybody a bit financially regards planning for next year. That could not have been done without knowing where we ended up at the end of the season. That has been a big help.

"We are actively looking just now to strengthen. We have to think about injuries in positions where we only have a couple of players to play in that position. We are always well covered in midfield with options like Ryan Thomson and people who can drop back into midfield. An injury or two in there we can accommodate I think. Obviously you want to keep your key players in their positions .

"Robert Thomson is coming to the end of a short term contract and we really only have Allan Smith, Ryan Wallace, Ryan Thomson and Jordan Moore so I might look to do something in the striking area.

"When you see big Callum Morris out and ending up with two young centre backs and no cover, we really need to address that because the lad who could play there would be playing out of position. Chris Kane could play there but none have had a lot of experience of playing there at first team level."

Kerr Young and Lewis Martin have a fair amount of experience of playing as a partnership but at under 20 level last season. The Manager felt that advantage showed against Arbroath in the last game:-

"It never really upset us when Callum missed the game but Callum Morris is a key player who you want to play week in, week out. We need to get cover at the back and maybe another striker. In the midfield areas and wide areas we can cope with absences."

Taking advantage of a blank Saturday, the Manager and his coaching staff took in games where potential targets were assessed.