ALLAN JOHNSTON has revealed that he is working on reaching an agreement to keep midfielder John Herron at the club beyond January.

The Pars boss made his first move in the transfer window last week by bringing centre back Callum Morris back to the club but has decisions to make on at least two of his players.

Herron is on loan at East End Park until the end of the month, while Gavin Reilly and Paul McMullan penned season-long agreements from Hearts and Celtic respectively.

Farid El Alagui's short-term deal is also up at the end of the month and Johnston is weighing up his options.

He said: "John Herron has a good record, we have won the majority of games when he has played, that shows you how big an influence he is on the team. Paul McMullan over the last six or seven weeks has been fantastic in the way that he has come in. He has energy, pace and is somebody who excites the crowd as well. We are trying to keep them.

"We have still to make a decision on a Farid, it comes down to other factors as well. We have up until the 23rd and Farid has an option as well where he can decide to move on. Both sides have an option so we will wait see what happens."

Herron joined Dunfermline from Blackpool minutes before the summer transfer window closed and, in November, told the Press that he didn't want to return to Lancashire.

He said that he was open to staying on with the Pars, adding: "I’m back from injury now and playing games so if something comes up here in January then I would look at it.

"There has been a bit of interest from a few people talking but if Dunfermline were to put something on the table then it would be hard to walk away from here."

El Alagui, who has hit four goals for Dunfermline so far, also expressed his interesting in staying put.

Speaking to the Press last week, he commented: "I'll have a chat with the gaffer when the time comes - there's no point in thinking about it too much and I have to put the football first.

"I would like to stay because I've felt good here and I've been playing football, which is the main thing.

"At the end of January we'll see what happens."