Ross County manager Owen Coyle says any January targets must show him they have the right mentality before he pursues deals to bring them to Dingwall.
Coyle is eager to add to his squad having seen his Staggies slump to the bottom of the league just before the turn of the year, with their 2-0 defeat at Partick Thistle leaving them three points adrift.
With County now on their winter break, and not back in action until their Scottish Cup fourth round tie at Kilmarnock on January 20, Coyle’s efforts are now focused on recruiting players who can help the Highlanders out of their predicament.
Coyle says he must be convinced his potential additions have the character, in addition to the quality, required for the challenging weeks that await his team.
He said: “We will look to bring a few bodies in. They need to be the type that we need, those with that mentality and drive to see us through difficult games which every game is in this league.
“When that’s the way we like it, we are capable of winning those games and climbing up the league.
“Of course it was a horrible way to finish the year. Any time there is a break in football, we want to go into it on a relative positive. Certainly not losing games, and ultimately looking to win them.
“We have given ourselves a long three weeks until we get back to that game again but it gives us an opportunity to get some work done, and get one or two bodies in the door, and kick on from there.”
Coyle says he is open to adding reinforcements all over the park, in his first transfer window since replacing Jim McIntyre in September. The Staggies boss added: “There’s no doubt we would like to improve every area of the field – that goes without saying.
“It’s important we don’t bring bodies in for bodies’ sake though. It has got to be the right mentality and the right quality to add to the ones we’ve got.”