Cliftonville boss Paddy McLaughlin is eager to “freshen” up his squad in the January transfer window ahead of a defining period of the season.
The Reds recently added goalkeeper Ruadhan McKenna to their ranks, with Declan Dunne and Garry Breen both departing for Dungannon Swifts.
McLaughlin insists he is happy with his options - “as long as everyone stays fit and healthy” - but is open to bolstering his squad in the days ahead.
“We’ll target one or two and see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“You’re always on the lookout for good players who might be available to improve your squad and that’ll be the case until the window closes.
“Our boys have been superb, but we could probably do with one or two reinforcements to freshen things up. I think it would give the players a lift.
“We’re delighted with what we have as long as they stay fit and healthy, but if we can add to our options, so be it.
“You’re always glad to see new faces coming in and it gives people a kick up the backside as much as anything else.”
Twelve months ago, Cliftonville enjoyed a productive January transfer window.
Conor McMenamin did leave for Glentoran in a high-profile deal, but the Reds snapped up the likes of midfielder Rory Hale, the versatile Kris Lowe and forwards Paul O’Neill and Daniel Kearns.
“We had a good January window last year,” said McLaughlin. “We moved one or two on and brought in five or six and it gave us a real shot in the arm.
“I don’t think we’re in any need of major surgery this time, but one or two new faces might give everyone a lift.”
McLaughlin was speaking after Monday night’s 2-1 defeat to Glentoran, a result that saw the Solitude men slip to third in the Danske Bank Premiership.
Jamie McDonagh fired the Reds into an early lead, before two Jay Donnelly goals either side of the break turned the live Sky game on its head.
“It’s bitterly disappointing that we didn’t get at least a point,” said McLaughlin. “We had chances late on and it was almost like a bombardment of their goal.
“Their goalkeeper (Aaron McCarey) made a couple of great saves and I think we definitely could have come away with at least a point.
“We gave away a soft goal for 1-1 and when Glentoran came out with the bit between their teeth at the start of the second half, we switched off.
“We didn’t manage that period of the game and they got their second goal.”
Despite suffering back-to-back league defeats to Crusaders and Glentoran, the Reds are still only five points off the summit and will look to bounce back at Larne on Friday night.
