Brian Laws to pass on loan market? Click Here!

But he won’t bring new faces into the club just for the sake of it.

Next Thursday brings the cut-off point for temporary signings, ahead of the transfer window opening on New Year’s Day.

And while there is an element of preparing for any eventuality, as regards injury, suspension and loss of form, Laws insists he won’t make a move unless potential signings enhance what he’s got and can go straight into the side.

He said: “We’ve got to look at anything that happens, whether it be a striker or a midfield player.

“Do we need to strengthen before the transfer deadline?

“We’ve got a week left to be able to cover the Christmas period of necessary, or are we a strong enough team ready to go through this real busy period?

“That’s something I’ve certainly got to look at very closely over the next few days.

“We’ve definitely got our fingers ready to press the button if necessary.

“We’ve already targeted two or three players for their positions and availability, it’s how far we go down that line.

“Because the one thing I don’t want to do is just bring another squad player in, because that’s just another selection problem we’re going to cause.

“If we’re going to bring someone in he’s got to go in the side, without question, otherwise we’re wasting our time.”

Asked about the possibility of landing Birmingham’s Kevin Phillips, who has been the subject of much speculation, he added: “I don’t know where that came from.

“He’s always on everybody’s radar if you’re looking for a natural finisher, regardless of his age.

“But if you want to replace him like for like then he’s not a player like Paterson.

“I would dismiss it for a replacement for Pato.”

Danny Fox remains an injury concern with an ankle problem, but Laws wants to give his squad a chance to compensate, and Brian Easton has stepped in twice this season admirably.

The 22-year-old has had to be patient for his chance after signing for £350,000 from Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2009.

Laws said: “It’s one of those situations where we had an injury staring us in the face and you wonder whether you’ve got the personnel, not just for cover but to keep strong.

“Brian Easton hasn’t really been tested at all since he’s been here.

“He’s flirted with the first team and had a couple of games and done okay, he had a good pre-season with us but he’s not really been tested to such a degree that we would whether he was that player who had a fantastic future here.

“He’s certainly grown in stature and confidence in the games he’s played, and I thought he played extremely well against Watford.

“I’m sure he sees this as an opportunity where, if he gets three or four games, could he try to make the position his own?

“That’s something we had to look at and think about the what ifs.

“If we didn’t think he was up to scratch, we’d have to do something about it, but I’ve got to say he’s done well.

“And I’d much rather see one of our younger players than say, no disrespect, an Arsenal left back – when we’re doing them a favour by giving them playing time and improving his ability.

“I’d rather try to utilise our own if we can, and Brian’s certainly shown he’s more than capable of doing that.

“We’ve been very pleased with that.”

Easton only made one appearance for the club last season, in the Carling Cup at Hartlepool, but Laws revealed he turned down the chance of a second – which proved to be a good decision.

He said: “It may have worked in his favour the fact that he hasn’t been thrown in at the deep end too early because maybe he wasn’t ready and he was one for the future.

“Sometimes you have to wait. Waiting is one thing but once you get that opportunity it’s taking it.

“What I’ve seen since I’ve been here is that Brian is growing in confidence.

“I spoke to him last season – in fact I was going to throw him in for the game against Reading in the FA Cup.

“But he felt he wasn’t ready, which surprised me but in a way I admired his honesty.

“Many players would have just gone in there and thought ‘I’ll give it a go and if I fail, I fail’.

“But he didn’t feel he was ready and I told him I admired his honesty.

“He felt he hadn’t been training well and he didn’t feel he was ready to give his all.

“He didn’t want to let the team down. He was probably fearful of making mistakes because he wasn’t in a confident mood. It happens to people sometimes.

“Looking back on it we can probably say it was the right thing.

“But now if I asked him the same question I’d get a different answer.”