Dundee boss Paul Hartley admits this transfer window has been the toughest yet for him as he tries to strengthen the spine of his team.
The Dens boss admits he is on the look-out for a strong, experienced defender as well as a striker with Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart having left the club.
Dundee, who are understood to have had another bid for St Mirren midfielder Stevie Mallan rejected earlier this week may try yet again to persuade the Buddies to part with the 20-year-old.
However, what is certain is that Hartley is determined to add to his squad sooner rather than later.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s Premiership game against Hamilton at Dens, the manager said: “We are still trying to get a couple in.
“A centre-half is a priority and a striker. So we are trying hard to bring players in before the window closes but it is definitely not easy.
“We might go down the loan route. But sometimes even after the window shuts, players become available to you.
“So we might even get a couple in on trial over the next week or so.
“But we definitely need to strengthen up top and at centre-back.
“We want someone who can really defend.
“I think we are going to go for another experienced one if we can but they are hard to come by.
“We have worked really hard behind the scenes to get one in but it is definitely not easy.
“I think this is the toughest market yet for us. I know we have brought six in but it has still been a hard market.
“Everybody wants the same type – a centre-half, a goal scorer.
“We have also lost 40 goals out of our team in terms of Stewart and Hemmings so to replace them was always going to be difficult.
“We need to find a way to get goals into our team. Looking at the spine of the team, we need a striker for more competition, a centre-back as we are really short there just now and possibly a wide player or a central midfielder.”
One player who has been notable by his absence in the first two league games has been Craig Wighton.
Hartley had been considering starting him against Hamilton tonight however, the player is set to miss out through injury.
He added: “Craig has been unlucky in the first two games but he was definitely in my thoughts for the Hamilton game and probably would have started.
“However, he got injured in training on Tuesday. He just tweaked his knee late in the session.
“Craig is struggling as is Michael Duffy with his thigh while Paul McGowan has a bug.
“So we are potentially three players down for what will be a tough game.
“Hamilton are a team full of energy and quality. They have good experience about them and I have seen them a couple of times already.
“So I am expecting the usual when you play Hamilton – we will have to match their effort and workrate.”
