NEIL Lennon made a plea for reinforcements on the final day of the transfer window, admitting: “We desperately need a hand.”

The Wanderers boss wants at least two new signings on board by today’s deadline – and is thought to be looking to land a target man, a midfielder and a full-back.

Darren Pratley became the latest player to join the injured list in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Wolves and could now miss three weeks with a hamstring injury.

But Lennon is unsure whether he will be backed with finances today unless key players such as Chung-Yong Lee are sold.

“I look around the teams in the top half of the table and they can go out and spend money to strengthen,” he told The Bolton News. “I’m not able to do that.

“It’s not like I’m building a squad, it’s one in, one out, it’s more like restructuring.

“I need players. It’s not just this week – if you look ahead we’ve got a lot of midweek games. We need a hand.

“We are looking to get them in and I think we’ll be pretty busy on Monday now.”

Crystal Palace are expected to step up their chase for Chung-Yong today, with a deal now described as “likely” within the camp.

Wanderers have been holding out for a fee of £1million up front for the Korean star but may be forced to lower their demands in order to fund new signings.

But Lennon is impressed with the way his side have coped without the influential playmaker

“Of course you don’t want to lose a player of Chungy’s quality,” he said. “He is a special player but Zach has come in and done very well.

"But since Chungy has been out we have only lost the one game at Rotherham.

“I am not saying we wouldn’t miss him but if he does go, you have to get on with it.

“In an ideal world I would love to have him here but you have to be realistic about these things at times.”

Lennon admits his business could spill over into the loan window.

“I’d imagine that’s a possibility,” he said. “We’ve been rebuffed on one or two players now but I’m pretty sure we’ll get some in.

“What I need is a bit more physicality at the top end of the pitch. We look a little light there.

“Le Fondre, Clough, I’m hoping Rochinha will add to that – then once we get Davies and Heskey back it looks a bit healthier if you’ll pardon the pun.”

The club appear to have lost out on strike target Alain Traor, however, with the Burkina Faso international on the verge of signing for Monaco.

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