Neil Lennon: Bolton signings key to play-off hopes

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Bolton have lost just three of their 13 games since Neil Lennon was appointed manager in October

Manager Neil Lennon says Bolton's hopes of challenging for promotion to the Premier League this season hinge on their transfer dealings in January.

Wanderers are 11 points adrift of the top six after Huddersfield ended their eight-match unbeaten run on Sunday.

Lennon told 91热爆 Radio Manchester that adding to the squad is "imperative".

He said: "I need to bring some quality in to augment the players we already have if we want to make a serious fist of getting to the play-offs."

The former Celtic manager added: "We can get to work on that now. The window opens this week. We need to get some bodies in.

"We have been patching the boys up for a few weeks and they have been magnificent. If we get a couple more injuries, then we are picking from the youth team."

Bolton have made high-profile additions in recent weeks, with former England striker Emile Heskey, 36, joining after a spell in Australia and ex-Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen, also 36, returning to the club after 14 years away.

Heskey scored on his Bolton debut in the Boxing Day win over Blackburn and had a goal disallowed at Huddersfield.

But Lennon feels he still lacks attacking depth in his squad.

"The difference is that we are three centre forwards short at the minute," said the 43-year-old.

"They [Huddersfield] can put on Nahki Wells and take off James Vaughan - that little bit of life and experience of playing centre-forward. I know we have Emile, but we need others."