Town manager George Burley has said he wants to bring in an attacking midfielder before Thursday's transfer deadline. Town have sought to find a player to fill this gap in the squad since last summer, but despite interest in Claus Jensen, Gert Verheyen, Hassan Kachloul and at least one other unnamed player no-one has been signed.
The Town manager said: "The transfer deadline is on Thursday and I am looking to strengthen our midfield section if possible. We lack depth in that area. If we pick up an injury or two we will find ourselves a bit short."
However, he added that there is no deal currently being completed: "It would be good to bolster the squad but nothing is sorted with any player at present. All I know is that after Thursday I cannot take anyone else."
Plenty of names have been linked with Town with perhaps the most prominent being Gavin Rae from Dundee and Mark Kerr from Falkirk. However, Dundee appear to want unreasonable money for their player while Kerr is seen more as a man of the future rather than a player to come into the side now. If Town do buy a player before the deadline it could be a name we have yet to hear rumoured.
On loan Scottish striker Mark Burchill may get a full call-up after Paul Dickov dropped out of the squad with injury. Burchill was in the U21 squad, but now the injury to the Manchester City man may see him step up to the senior squad.
Bonkers as ever Paolo Di Canio is still complaining about the penalty incident late in Saturday's game. The Italian feels he is being victimised by referees and has a rather draconian solution to the problem.
The wild-eyed striker said: "Do they think that I have to change my face and maybe have a serious op? Well, I won't, because I love my face and they are going to have to put up with it for the next two years. It's not a case of 'I should have had a penalty' - it was definite."
Di Canio reacted angrily to referee Dean's failure to award him a penalty when he was tackled by Fabian Wilnis, although it looked as if Wilnis had clearly got the ball and few reports if any mentioned the incident. After the decision was made the quirky striker gave one of the Upton Park posts a good kicking before leathering the ball at an advertising hoarding.
He continued: "It was a terrible decision and it has robbed 30,000 people of fairness. They have to understand that they don't do damage to Paolo Di Canio, but to the 30,000 people who come every week plus another 100,000 or so who spend their money on West Ham."
On the upside of course, the lack of a penalty meant that 100,000 Town fans went out Saturday night in a very buoyant mood indeed. Swings and roundabouts isn't it Paolo?
Town have been offered a chance to play in South Carolina in the fixture gap between the Manchester City and Derby games. The game will be against the Charleston Battery who are managed by ex-Bristol City manager Alan Dicks.
Town have another friendly organised for next Tuesday at Braintree. The game is a testimonial for Adam Tanner's brother Russell who is a stalwart of the Essex club.