CHRIS Wilder wants to make two new signings during the January transfer window after failing to extend Lee Cox’s stay with Oxford United.

The midfielder’s six-month loan spell ended on January 1 and despite Cox being keen to stay for the rest of the campaign, the U’s could not agree a deal with his parent club Swindon Town.

With Jake Forster-Caskey and Daniel Boateng also leaving at the end of their loans, it leaves the U’s stretched.

They have just 17 fit first-team players for tomorrow’s FA Cup meeting with Sheffield United, three of whom are goalkeepers.

Wilder believes it will be tough to bring anyone in before the game, but is looking to reinforce two positions this month.

He said: “We won’t be doing it just for the sake of it, but obviously on a longer term we will need a midfield player and we’ll possibly need a forward, with JP (Pittman) being out.

“We’re looking at that, but there’s a lot of boxes that need to be ticked.

“The window is a notoriously difficult time to work in, because League One and League Two clubs don’t want to let their better players go and with Championship clubs the financial aspect comes into play.”

A win tomorrow would certainly help United’s search.

The winners will receive £67,500 in prize-money up for grabs, along with the potential of an even more lucrative tie in the fourth round.

Talks are taking place with one target, but for the moment Wilder is expecting to rely on players already at the club.

He said: “We have Hessy (Simon Heslop) back in the fold so it might open the door for him.

“There’s Tony (Capaldi) and other things we can do – it might just be we give one of the young ones a game and see where that goes.”