ATHLETIC are “monitoring certain situations” as they explore possible options to strengthen their squad during the transfer window.

Earlier this week, speculation linked the Pars with a swoop for Dundee United forward Cammy Smith, who is currently on loan at Ayr United.

The 25-year-old scored 10 goals for St Mirren when they were crowned Championship winners in 2018 and, although he would not comment on any individual names, head coach Stevie Crawford, who confirmed midfielder Paul Allan has been recalled from a loan spell at Albion Rovers, said that the club were looking to add if they could.

“It’s like anything in January; we are exploring other options at the moment,” he explained.

“There’s nothing concrete as of yet. If the opportunity arises to strengthen the squad, then we would like to do that, but it’s got to be the right type and if it’s a player that we think is going to help the progress and move on.

“There’s no point in just adding for the sake of adding. There’s nothing as of yet in terms of a certain individual or players that we’re looking to bring in but behind the scenes we are monitoring certain situations continually.

“It’s great that we’re in a position that we’re talking about possibly strengthening the club if we can and strengthening the squad. That’s not a slant on the boys we’ve got; I just feel we’ve got ourselves into a good position and, if we can add the right character, then great.

“But, if it doesn’t happen, I fully have faith in the players we’ve got in the squad that we can have a successful season anyway.

“There are areas that I would like to strengthen the team and the squad but I’d rather keep that to myself at the moment.”

Meanwhile, Crawford, who confirmed that his squad were undertaking COVID-19 tests yesterday (Wednesday) after training, has been preparing for his team’s first game in 17 days when they travel to Morton tomorrow (Friday).

Their scheduled Scottish Cup tie with the same opponents last weekend fell victim to the weather and, after the SFA announced a three-week suspension of football beneath the Championship – which included the Scottish Cup – from midnight on Monday, Tuesday’s rearranged tie was also called off.

Dunfermline head into the clash, live on BBC Scotland, second in the table and Crawford, whose only absentee is Lewis Martin, continued: “We know they’re facing the same challenges as we are, and it’s just remaining positive if we can.

“They’ve hit a wee bit of form so it’ll be a tough match, as it always is down at Cappielow, but we’re looking forward to it.

“Morton came to our place and turned us over. It was a sore one on the day but we were going to face a defeat at some stage. When I look back at our last six games, you look at three of the fixtures we’ve drawn in – at Raith Rovers, Dundee and Inverness – it shows that we’ve got that fighting spirit.

“That’s something that will be tested again on Friday night but I’m confident that if our boys apply themselves properly, as they have done this season, then we can go down there and get a positive result.

“The boys have been training properly and are very much looking forward to the game.”