Paul Hurst has admitted he is still a number of ‘starters’ short of his ideal side for the opening-day clash against Blackburn Rovers.
The Blues boss has brought in wingers Jordan Roberts and Gwion Edwards, striker Ellis Harrison and versatile Chelsea youngster Trevoh Chalobah already this summer but know he has holes to fill throughout his side.
He would like those holes filled before the opening game of the season against Blackburn on August 4, with the Blues boss admitting a number of his opening day-starters may not be at the club yet.
“We certainly need to [make further additions] and realistically we need to for Blackburn,” Hurst said.
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“The squad at times has already been very, very stretched. We’ve got players that we’ve inherited that are coming back from injury that aren’t going to be ready.
“We’ve got someone like Tom Adeyemi who started but is injured again. Some of the lads that are joining in at the minute, they’re not ready.
“And then we’ve got a little bit of a worry with Cole Skuse, Tristan Nydam missed the game the other night. We are really stretched.
“Pre-season’s fine, as in you can say, ‘You’ve won games, you’ve kept clean sheets’, but I think we all know it’s a different story in the Championship and we certainly need some strength in depth, some lads to come in and probably as starters, in all honesty.
“It all takes time and patience is a word which I have to keep using and it’s certainly testing my patience.”
The window for permanent transfers closes on August 9 with clubs still able to do loan deals until the end of next month, but Hurst would much prefer to bring players into the club on full-time deals rather than relying on temporary deals.
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“I understand it’s out there for clubs to do but, at the same time, I don’t think it changes too much beyond the normal loan system,” he said.
“We would benefit from having some permanent players here because you know they will be here, you have time to work with them and get them to where you want to be.
“Then, if they’re doing well, you’re not going to lose them come January.”
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