ALLAN JOHNSTON is hopeful of strengthening his Dunfermline squad in January but says their festive double-header is his immediate priority.

The Pars boss is assessing his options ahead of the transfer window opening in the new year and, as well as searching for potential reinforcements, he will have to make decisions about the future of several players next month.

The loan agreement with Blackpool for midfielder John Herron, who has already expressed his desire not to return south and to stay at East End Park, expires next month, while Farid El Alagui’s short-term deal is also due to end.

Temporary deals for Gavin Reilly, who has a new boss at parent club Hearts in Ian Cathro, and winger Paul McMullan run to the end of the campaign, but there is a possibility they could be recalled.

But all thoughts of player movement are on hold ahead of the crunch clashes with Falkirk and Raith Rovers.

The Bairns are first up when they make the trip across the Kincardine Bridge on Boxing Day, and Johnston told Press Sport: “January is always a difficult time to get players, simply because there’s not many players available, and there are different rules in place that make it doubly difficult as well.

“We’re trying our best but there’s no decisions as yet, we’ll have to wait and see. We’ve got to focus on the football because it’s an important period and there are a lot of big games coming up.

“We’ve picked up but we know it’s going to be tough because Falkirk are probably one of the teams that are fancied for getting into the promotion slots and they’re a team that has achieved that over the last couple of years.

“But we’re at home, it’s a big derby, so it’s a great game to play in. Three points would be a great way to go into the new year and it’s a chance to close the gap because they’re nine points ahead of us. It’s a great opportunity.

“I’m sure the players don’t need any motivation because you can see the hunger and desire they’ve got, especially over the last seven games. They’ve got that wee bit of confidence to go on and win games, so we’ve just got to make sure they’ve got the consistency and keep doing it between now and the end of the season.”

Johnston was disappointed that the Pars couldn’t hold out for victory at Queen of the South on Saturday after fighting back from a goal down to lead 2-1, but he said: “We’ve been consistent and maybe a couple of times we’ve been really unfortunate not to turn a couple of draws into wins. There’s been a lot of good performances and sometimes we’ve not got what we deserved, but we’re on a decent run.”

The Pars are set to be without one of Saturday’s goalscorers, Kallum Higginbotham, on Monday due to suspension, but Andy Geggan and David Hopkirk returned to the bench after injury at Palmerston.

Johnston was hopeful John Herron would return to full training this week after an ankle knock forced him off against Morton, but Michael Paton is a doubt after missing the Queens match with a hamstring problem picked up while playing for the Under-20s last week.