Here we are with a week or so to go until the end of the transfer window. Of course, players can still be brought in on loan after the window for permanent transfers has closed, but I imagine a lot of us are wondering: is this what we expected to see, as far as transfer window activity?

Simon Dawkins loan from Spurs was made permanent; Michael Keane's loan from Manchester United was extended to the end of January and Zak Whitbread was extended to the end of the season. More recently Patrick Bamford was brought in from Chelsea until the end of the season.

There was a little clearing of the decks earlier in the month; Michael Jacobs made his move to Wolves permanent while Kieron Freeman and Callum Ball went back on loan to Notts County.

I must admit to being surprised that we haven't seen more players leaving; especially those who are out of favour.

In an earlier column back in late December, I warned against our promotion ambitions bringing a flurry of January transfer activity of the type we saw when the odious Billy Davies was in charge.

We are still suffering the after-effects of that episode but I have also said more than once, that Steve McClaren's early success with the team should put him in a strong position to demand reinforcements in January.

We have certainly not yet seen the volume of activity I was expecting. This is surprising, as SM is working with a very thin squad.

We currently have only six players to fill the back four positions - Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Whitbread, Keane and Forsyth with Keane due to leave shortly. It seems to me that we need another full back and centre back; not necessarily big signings, but players who can provide competitive cover for a while if required.

In the midfield it is a similar story with only four players - Eustace, Bryson, Hughes and Hendrick to fill the three midfield spots. I know we also have Ben Davies and Bailey, but SM seems disinclined to use Davies while Bailey’s recent appearances on the bench may indicate some more game time if needs dictate.

If you had to pick the position most urgently requiring backup, for me it would be finding an understudy for Eustace. Despite becoming a key player this season, he will be 35 soon after the start of next season which makes him unlikely to be in the club's long term plans.

One department where we are not in short supply of bodies is up front, we have lots of strikers and / or attacking midfielders on the books. Considering we are the highest scorers in the league, it is hard to mount a case that more additions would be required. What does surprise me is that we have not seen at least one more of them go out on loan to get some valuable game time.

In summary, I find myself struggling to understand why we have seen no more cover come in for the defence and midfield. Given that the obvious intention of appointing Steve McClaren was to provide a genuine promotion challenge, it seems odd that the club would risk sacrificing the progress that has been made.

But perhaps I'm worrying unnecessarily or maybe it is just I am concerned that James O'Connor's has a recall clause in his loan deal.

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