TONY PULIS will once again be looking to make attacking additions when the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year, but the Middlesbrough manager is adamant he will not be spending money just for the sake of it.

Pulis pursued a number of forward targets in the summer, but was left frustrated when attempts to sign the likes of Albert Adomah, Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon failed to come to fruition.

The Boro boss freely admits his current squad lacks pace and power in the wide-attacking slots, and he will be attempting to plug the gaps in the January window.

Boro’s recruitment team have spent the last couple of months assessing options both at home and abroad, and are understood to have submitted their initial thoughts to Pulis, who will decide on the next move.

Steve Gibson is ready to support his manager in the transfer market, but having conceded that previous Middlesbrough managers have persuaded the chairman to spend his money unwisely, Pulis is not about to advocate financial profligacy.

The 60-year-old has been in football long enough to know that January can be a difficult month in which to do business, and is adamant he will not be paying over the odds for players that could be available at a much lower price come the end of the campaign.

“We’ve got a good group of lads, who work really hard, but we also know what we’ve got to do and what we need,” said Pulis, who watched his side extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions with a 1-1 draw at Preston on Tuesday night. “If we want to push on, we know what’s required, and we’ll be doing our damnedest to try to bring it in.

“But as I’ve said before, I will not be throwing money at anything if I don’t think it’s right. That’s not the way I manage.”

Pulis’ ability to strike a transfer bargain was underlined by the deal that brought Aden Flint to the Riverside in the summer, and the former Stoke, West Brom and Crystal Palace boss has also proved adept at utilising the loan market, recruiting Mo Besic and Jordan Hugill on a temporary basis.

He has also been willing to work with Middlesbrough’s youngsters, promoting Dael Fry, Marcus Tavernier and Lewis Wing to the starting line-up in the first half of the season.

All three were involved at Deepdale on Tuesday, with Tavernier proving especially effective as he came off the bench to score Boro’s second-half equaliser.

The 19-year-old also found the net in last weekend’s 2-1 win at Brentford, and there has been an inevitable clamour for him to start tomorrow’s televised home game with Aston Villa.

Pulis understands the level of excitement that surrounds the club’s youngsters, but continues to sound a word of warning about piling too much pressure on their shoulders at such an early stage of their respective careers.

“I’m pleased for Tav, but I mean this, we’ve got to be careful with him,” said the Boro boss. “We’ve got to be careful with him, not only on the pitch, but off the pitch in terms of building him up as well.

“He’s a wonderful talent, but he’s got to learn the game. I’ve got great faith in him and the players like him, that’s why I am playing him. So, yes, he’s got a chance.”

Tavernier will hope to start against Villa, but if he does, he will not be lining up against Adomah. The former Boro winger missed Villa’s remarkable 5-5 draw with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night through injury, and will not be involved at the Riverside tomorrow.

“He’s still got a little bit of swelling in the ankle, so he’ll be struggling for Saturday,” said Villa boss Dean Smith. “I’m hopeful he’ll be back for the West Brom game, which would be a boost for us.”