PARS boss Allan Johnston admits that he is already casting his eye over potential targets to beef up his squad next month.

The transfer window will re-open on New Year’s Day and Johnston has hinted that there could be movement at East End Park within that four-week period as his side bids to continue on an upward curve.

Saturday’s Scottish Cup success at Buckie Thistle, which earned Dunfermline a trip to Alloa in round four, was their second win on the bounce after they saw off St Mirren in their last league match.

Athletic entertain Ayr United this weekend knowing that victory would take them above their seventh-placed opponents and while he is confident his players can continue their recent resurgence, he will be assessing his recruitment options in January.

With Ben Richards-Everton set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines and both Andy Geggan and Ryan Williamson also out, Johnston’s defensive selections are being stretched and said that is an area he will assess.

Loan signing John Herron, whose deal is up in January, is keen to stay while a decision on whether to retain Farid El Alagui will also have to be taken when his short-term deal expires.

Johnston told Press Sport: “It’s good that John has said he’d like to stay; that’s what you want to hear from the players but it’s not just up to to them, it’s up to the clubs as well and Blackpool would have the biggest say.

“We’ve always got to be looking ahead and try to plan but you just don’t know what’s going to happen, whether people are going to move on or if clubs are going to recall their loan players.

“There’s a lot of factors.

“With Ben being out, and Ryan and Geggs are out just now as well, we are a wee bit short (defensively) so it’s something we’ll look at but the picture changes quite quickly when people start to come back.

“You’re always looking to see who’s available but we’ll have to wait to closer to the time.

“Winning games brings confidence and we have to keep on improving and climbing up the league. If you start getting four, five or six results then you’re up there challenging again but we need to work even harder.

“We were always looking up the way with the players we’ve got – there was never any doubt about that – but we had to turn the performances into results.

“Hopefully we can start to do that now.”

Johnston made four changes for the Buckie tie and singled out Paul McMullan for praise.

He continued: “I thought he was excellent; in both halves he did really well getting at them with his pace, getting crosses in and scored the two goals.

“I’m delighted because we’re always on at him about scoring goals and his first was a brilliant goal.

“It was a great bit of skill and he’s got that but he needs to do more of it because when you’ve got that type of ability you need to use it.

“He deserved his chance because in the last few weeks he’s been coming on and has done really well.

“He’s been unfortunate probably not to start a couple of the games so I’m delighted.

“There’s good competition there and you know that you’ve got to play well to keep your place in the team.”

The manager confirmed that, alongside Richards-Everton, Geggan will miss out this weekend and is a “wee bit away” from a return to training.

Williamson has resumed running but remains a doubt, while David Hopkirk and Gavin Reilly are both still missing.