Chris Brass expects the final 48 hours of the January transfer window to be the busiest.

And he hopes that will result in 'two or three welcome additions' at Scunthorpe United.

Clubs often re-evaluate their squads once they have played their final match of the month, so they are able to make a final decision on what players they are prepared to allow to leave.

The Iron are poised to wrap up a deal to sign Wolves full-back Jamie Reckord on loan in the next couple of days and Brass is sure other lines of enquiry will reach a quick conclusion on Monday, ahead of the window closing 24 hours later

"We've spoken to clubs and they're no different to ourselves," explained United's assistant manager.

"Unfortunately they get injuries and so they hold back on letting players out.

"We're the same here. We had to call Aron Wint back from a loan spell last week, though it was only at Belper, because we needed him for the bench (for the Stevenage game).

"He's gone there and done quite well and looked bright in training. He's got an awful lot of work to do to get in the first team, but it's progress.

"That's how it works here and it's no different at other clubs."

United are lighter on numbers than at the start of the month, following the conclusion of loan deals for the likes of Sam Johnstone, Oliver Norwood, Shane Duffy and Nicky Ajose and the departures of Chris Dagnall (Barnsley) and Michael Nelson.

So far, they have brought in three new faces, with Reckord also to come, but Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday highlighted where the Iron are so desperately short.

Bringing in players of Everton defender Duffy's standard is a priority for Brass and boss Alan Knill.

The former though, accepts only being able to do that on loan can be frustrating, as Scunthorpe found to their detriment when the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was recalled early by the Toffees.

"We want to make those types of players ours and hopefully we'll get into the position where, rather than bringing them in on loan we'll maybe be able to buy them cheap with sell-ons and develop them here," Brass said.

"Then Scunthorpe United benefit – which is ultimately what we want to happen.

"At the moment we're trying to keep bringing players in.

"We've done a little bit of moving and shaking, though with injuries, unfortunately, priorities do sometimes change.

"If we can get everybody back and make two or three welcome additions to the squad, everybody will be quite happy.

"That gives us a chance to get out of the position we're in and then we can start looking forwards and building for the future.

"We have to make sure we're heading in the right direction for the start of next season."

And, indeed, to ensure that their immediate future is in League One.