Preston North End set to limit their January transfer business to Scott Sinclair's arrival

Alex Neil did not think he would be welcoming anyone else into his squad when he spoke to the media yesterday.

It is a case of working with what he has got as the Scot attempts to guide PNE into the top six.

Sinclair arrived from Celtic on January 8, the signing of the winger really capturing the imagination.

The North End faithful would have hoped such a marquee signing could be followed up with another deal or two but it seems the budget has been used up.

Neil seemed pragmatic about the state of play and will roll up his sleeves to get on with the job of a play-off push.

A new striker would have topped off nicely a very decent squad, one which carried PNE briefly to the top of the Championship and now has them sat just a point outside of the play-offs.

However, Neil admits the domestic market does not offer up many striking options.

Said Neil: “If you look at the people brought in by clubs, apart from Nakki Wells going to Bristol City, most signings come from abroad.

“Nottingham Forest have signed the lad from Strasbourg and Leeds have gone for the boy who has been playing for Leipzig. Domestically there aren’t many here. If you do get one they cost a fortune.”

The transfer window shuts at 11pm tonight.

Neil’s attention is firmly fixed on tomorrow’s clash with Swansea at Deepdale.

He has Andrew Hughes in contention for the left-back spot, the Welshman having been sidelined for a month with an ankle injury.

Paul Gallagher has also been back in training this week after a groin issue.

Swansea’s visit is the first of seven games in February.

Neil said: “I think we should be really pleased with have we have done so far.

“We haven’t done massive amounts in the windows, certainly our incomings in comparison to outgoings have been significantly different.

“Not only that, we have lost goals from our team with the players who left. Yet we are in the best position we have been in at this stage of the season in my time here.

“The players have been magnificent to get us to where we are. We now have 17 games to try and continue that.

“We went to Blackburn and churned out a good away point, so we are unbeaten in four away.

“I think we still have the best home form in the division, so there are a lot of things to be positive about.

“We have a lot of games coming up and this is a chance to gain momentum.”