BILLY Davies has challenged his Nottingham Forest squad to prove he does not need to make new additions.
The Scotsman says he will spend the next few weeks assessing whether he needs to delve into the loan market, after returning for a second spell as manager.
But he has already told his players he wants them to convince him that new signings are not necessary – starting when he resumes his City Ground career when Bolton visit on Saturday.
"I just want to assess the current squad, which might take a few weeks, to look to see if we require loan players," said Davies.
"I've already started looking at the possibility of the loan market and who might be available.
"If and when we decide what is needed, we will do it.
"But I hope it's not needed – and I have told the players that.
"I have asked them to give me all they have got.
"I want them to show that they want to be at this club, that they want to be in this team.
"If they do that, we will move forward and we might not need additions.
"It depends on the next few results. I said to the players that, if they do the business, change might not be necessary."
Previous boss Alex McLeish was particularly frustrated at the failure to sign a winger in January.
"At least we have a left back now! We did not have one before (during his previous spell in charge), but we have one now," said Davies.
"It's difficult to see what the recommendations were and the discussions that were needed.
"Maybe previous managers thought they needed players in other positions.
"We all have different thoughts on what we want or what is needed.
"But it has nothing to do with me. We will make those decisions."
On thing Davies is convinced Forest are short of is simple, old fashioned pace.
"On paper, there's deficiencies in the squad, there are clearly issues I need to deal with," he said. "I have a slower group of players as well.
"When we joined the club the last time, there was much more pace in the side.
"We had Tyson, Anderson, McCleary, Findley... I could stretch back fours by throwing Tyson on. You saw what he did to Derby. He tore them apart.
"But we do not have a Tyson, an Anderson, a Findley or a McCleary, so there is work to do in the squad."
Davies does believe there is plenty of quality at the club, however.
"On paper we have good players but, to get those players to a certain level, we know ourselves that we have got to change our game slightly; we have got to change our ways," he said.
"But we have very good players here."
Forest have appointed Bobby Downes as their new head of recruitment.
The former Peterborough, Rochdale, Watford, Barnsley and Blackpool player has previously held coaching roles at Blackpool, Aston Villa, Port Vale, Wolves, Watford and Blackburn.
He was already a part of Forest's coaching staff, but has now taken on the more senior role.
Manager Davies said: "It's great to have him as part of the family at the City Ground."
Downes said: "I look forward to the challenge ahead."
