NEIL Lennon admits his striker search has now reached desperation stakes.

Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town was compounded by the loss of Emile Heskey for up to six weeks with a calf injury – leaving him with just one fit out-and-out front man in Gary Madine.

While the Wanderers boss had been content to bide his time to find a proven goal-scorer he concedes that time is now against him.

“Given that we’ve lost Emile now we need to do something as soon as we possibly can,” he told The Bolton News. “In fact, we may need to change our thinking a little and bring in someone with a little more physicality.

“Will I have to make snap decisions? Probably yes. I need someone now.”

Wanderers have scored just four goals in their opening eight league games, with summer signing Gary Madine yet to get off the mark.

The former Sheffield Wednesday man came under some fire from the travelling fans at the John Smith’s Stadium, leaving Lennon looking around for different options up front.

“If we’re missing Emile for four to six weeks maybe and have Zach Clough out for a long time, we’re very short on options,” he said. “Max Clayton is almost there and maybe we have to rush him back now?

“But aside from that I need another physical one at the top end of the pitch because we’re not getting enough out of Gary Madine at the minute.”

Lennon described the performance at Huddersfield as “lightweight” and was at a loss to explain how his side capitulated in the second half, having held a 1-0 lead for the majority of the first period.

Liam Feeney’s early goal was cancelled out by Emyr Huws, after which the home side ran riot, leaving the margin of victory a fair reflection.

“We looked lightweight at both ends of the pitch and that’s obviously a concern,” Lennon said.

“Heskey going off early – I’ve got David Wheater out, Dorian Dervite out, Darren Pratley out – so we’re losing some serious size. We need some physicality.

“But it’s no excuse for the performance. We were second best all over the pitch and we need to put it right.

“It was all too easy for Huddersfield.”

Stephen Dobbie, who made his first start for the Whites playing in behind front man Madine admitted: “It wasn’t good enough. We have to take the result on the chin and try to put it right next weekend against Brighton.”