JAMES MCPAKE has said he is "expecting" new arrivals at KDM Group East End Park and anticipates that possible movement will gather pace before the close of the transfer window.

Although the Dunfermline boss doesn't anticipate adding to the loan capture of Malachi Fagan-Walcott before Saturday's trip to Dundee United "unless something drastically changes", he is "eager" to strengthen.

The January transfer deadline is set to pass next week but, for clubs in the SPFL Championship, League One and League Two, they can still make loan signings during February, provided they are from a higher division.

When asked whether there would be further additions, McPake, speaking in his weekly sit down with the media, said: "Probably not for Saturday now, unless something drastically changes between now and 5 o'clock today, but probably not for Saturday.

Dunfermline Press:

"The window closes the following week and then we have the loan window that then comes into play. We still are working away and expecting more to come in.

"It's not so much a domino effect now because you can see a lot of them moving, a lot of teams are moving people on.

"It always goes to the end. It should accelerate a bit now because the Premier League need to finish on Wednesday. The Premier League need to do all their incomings by Wednesday, so it kind of speeds that up.

"You can see that this week - things are moving and we'll continue to keep working.

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"What you don't want is to get to the end of February and you're bringing people in then, because then you've effectively only got March, April and then a bit of May to have those players.

"We're eager to get things done and we're working hard to do that because even though some are coming back, we still know we need a bit of reinforcement in there."

The manager's comments came after his number two, Dave Mackay, answered speculation linking the club with a move for Dundee forward, Zak Rudden, earlier this week by saying he is a player that they "rate really highly".

Ahead of the postponed home match with Airdrieonians, that had been due to take place on January 13, McPake had spoke of his hope that two players may arrive.

Centre back Fagan-Walcott, who signed a loan deal from Cardiff City until the end of the season, is the only one who has joined thus far, but McPake is hopeful of the other coming in before the window closes.

"That player is still at his parent club and would be one that would have to be done before Wednesday’s deadline, because he is not based in Scotland," he continued.

"There is still a bit of work going on in the background with that. That is maybe the one that we could have before Saturday but I’m very doubtful. That player is still there."

Although Harry Sharp returned to Dundee earlier in the month, after signing on loan in August, McPake said another goalkeeper - he has number one, Deniz Mehmet, and Max Little available - isn't the club's top priority.

He added: "I don’t know. Harry (Sharp) went back and he came on at the weekend and did pretty well for Dundee. Obviously Harry cannot go anywhere else and play now unless it’s us. We have Max and Den there at the minute, if anything changes with that we will assess it but at the minute the full focus is on other positions. We need to get that right first.

"I think it is glaringly obvious where those positions are. Everyone can have a stab in the dark at where they are but I don’t think it will be of any surprise when players do come in what position they play.

"Goalkeeper we will assess as we go, but that’s one that could wait and be comfortable enough in February provided Den doesn’t get injured.

"Goalies are probably a tricky position to get but it’s the easiest one to go and get cover for if need be. We will wait and see what happens. I hadn’t even thought of that, there was that much going on in other areas. That is well down my list at the minute."