PHIL Parkinson has not completely ruled out trawling the free agent market in the coming weeks to bolster his attack.

After missing out on Ched Evans on deadline day Wanderers laboured again in front of goal at Sheffield United, drawing their 16th blank of the season.

Parkinson wants to focus his efforts on the players he has at his disposal in the short term, starting with this weekend’s visit of Preston North End – but will be keeping his eyes out for short-term fixes which might be available to make a difference during the run-in.

“If someone came up, then like everyone we’d look at it,” he told The Bolton News. “But I would say those chances are limited. I just want to focus on the players who are still with us and get ready for a real go at staying in the division.”

Parkinson has only two senior strikers at his disposal, Josh Magennis and Clayton Donaldson, both struggling for form in what has been a frustrating campaign.

Leaving aside the goals against Walsall in the FA Cup, Donaldson has not scored in more than a year in the league, while Magennis grabbed the last of his four goals this season back in September.

Parkinson was disappointed not to sign Evans but is keen not to dwell, and the Bolton boss drew some encouragement from the comparative lack of business done elsewhere at the foot of the table.

“You look on the last day and Rotherham didn’t sign anybody, and Reading lost what I think was their best player in Leandro Bacuna,” he said.

“Obviously we’d like to have made quality additions but looking at the players who moved in the January window in the Championship there are not many who were in our market, in terms of what we’ve got to pay. There were not many who I thought ‘oh, we’ve missed out there.’ “You either pay extortionate fees, wages, or you can consider yourself quite lucky to get someone.”