TONY PULIS is hoping to make a couple of additions to his Middlesbrough squad this month – but admits his transfer dealings will be influenced by the number of players he looks to move on before the window closes.

Pulis feels he has inherited an “unbalanced squad” at the Riverside, with a surfeit of players in some positions and insufficient resources in others.

He is yet to receive a formal offer for any member of his squad, but is aware of interest in a number of his players and expects a number of outgoings before the end of the month.

He does not have to raise funds in order to be able to make signings of his own, but in terms of the size of the squad, he will only look to make additions if a number of players leave.

Pulis said: “We are looking. The squad is a big squad, and we’re trying to move a few out. Then, if there’s room to bring one or two in, we’ll do that. We want to make those changes, but it takes a bit of time.

“There are no offers for our players at the moment. If that changes, then Neil (Bausor) and the chairman will speak about that.

“There’s been interest in some of them, as there is with us with other people. It’s about finding out what’s in the market and scouring to see what’s available. But it’s nothing formal at the moment.”

Pulis only took over from Garry Monk on Boxing Day, and while he has presided over three games in a short space of time, he admits he has been unable to see as much of some players as he would have liked.

This week’s cancellation of a planned development game with Newcastle United robbed him of an opportunity to see some of his fringe players in action, so he was forced to organise a practice match at Boro’s Rockliffe Park training ground to ensure he could see some of his squad in a semi-competitive scenario.

Pulis said: “It’s difficult in lots of respects. You’re having to rely on what other people think of players and their characters. You don’t want to be rash with people, but we’ll see. I haven’t got a real firm grip on the football club yet, that takes time.

“We had a practice match this week, and we watched some of the players we haven’t seen play yet. There’s been players that haven’t played in the first team, and we still haven’t assessed what they can bring to the group yet.”

Boro return to Championship action against Fulham tomorrow, and Pulis admits he has three or four players whose participation in the game is touch and go.

He said: “We’ve got one or two knocks and niggles. If the players are fit in training today, they’ll play. But we’ve got one or two that might have to be on the bench, or might not make it.”