Alex Neil has not ruled out bringing in free agents to strengthen Sunderland's squad - admitting the Black Cats are still short in 'a couple of areas'.
But the new head coach is wary of adding more players who arrive having played little or no football - as the club did last month when Jermain Defoe, Patrick Roberts, and Jack Clarke, all joined having barely played a first-team game all season - because of the lack of time for them to get up to speed.
Neil oversaw his first game in charge of the Black Cats yesterday, and the 1-1 draw at relegation strugglers AFC Wimbledon has given him a clear idea of the limitations and shortcomings of the group he has inherited.
Asked whether he might look at the free agent market, he said: "I wouldn't rule anything out, but what I don't want to do is add to the group with players who have the same issues we have already got by bringing in players who just haven't played.
"It's really difficult in the free market, because you dip into it and bring them in but then it will take me a month or so to bring them up to speed and then we've got three games or something left.
"It's a difficult situation at the moment.
"That's not an excuse, it's my honest opinion based on what I've seen since I came in."
Fit again centre-back Bailey Wright returned to the starting XI after missing recent games with a calf injury, and he replaced January signing Danny Batth who missed out with an ankle problem.
Neil said: "Danny just rolled his ankle, and his ankle blew up - it swelled right up.
"Thankfully we have got Bailey [Wright] back to plug that gap for us.
"Naturally, there are a couple of areas we are short in which we are aware of.
"Even at full-back, where Dennis [Cirkin] is playing, we haven't got any cover there at the moment with [Niall] Huggins being out.
"Dennis has played a lot of football for a young kid."
For the latest Sunderland news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
