DOUGIE Freedman reckons his next moves in the transfer market could be crucial to Wanderers’ play-off hopes.

After winning four games on the spin, the Whites boss wants to strengthen his hand further with the addition of two loan signings before the window closes on March 28.

It is understood that Freedman had drawn up a wish list of four Premier League players, although the top target, Fulham’s Kerim Frei, is now likely to be out of the running after the West London club vetoed a deal.

Freedman may have to look elsewhere for the midfield creator to help fill the gap vacated by the injured Mark Davies, but it is thought the Scot could have someone on board in time to face Brighton at the Reebok this weekend.

Wanderers have 10 games remaining to close a five-point gap on the top six, and Freedman admits he may need some fresh legs to maintain current momentum.

“Games are running out quickly, which is unfortunate for us because we’re finding a bit of form right now,” he said.

“I’ve not looked at the table because I know that if we can continue playing and I can get a few players in on loan to help the squad – because they are tired right now – we’ll climb it.

“I’m not sure how quickly we can climb it because we’re running out of games, but we can certainly climb it if I can get a couple in to help the lads.”

Freedman has rotated his squad consistently during the seven-game unbeaten run, using 20 different players between the victory over Burnley and the midweek win over Blackburn.

Two of that list – Adam Bogdan and Mark Davies – are now injured, with loanee Steve de Ridder returning to Southampton.

Seven players – Zat Knight, Craig Dawson, Darren Pratley, Craig Davies, Jay Spearing, Chung-Yong Lee and David Ngog – have featured at some point in each of the last seven games.

And the manager believes another couple of signings are a must if the Whites are to give themselves a best possible chance of reaching the top six in May.

“I need to use my squad very carefully,” he said. “It’s not as big as I thought it was when I first got here.

"We have got one or two injuries and we have lost one or two players since then, and right enough it was my decision to lose a couple of them.

“But we just need to make sure we have the right set-up week in, week out. Do I need to go into the loan market? I probably do to freshen things up.”