Mark Cooper says Barrow AFC have their “finger on the pulse” when it comes to making their mark in the January transfer market.

The Bluebirds are aiming to bolster their ranks despite both the manager and chairman Paul Hornby admitting the mid-season window can be difficult to pull off the best deals.

Cooper has suggested younger loan additions are most likely at Holker Street.

The AFC boss says the market is being constantly monitored with less than a month until trading can begin.

“January’s a tricky window,” he said. “Who’s going to let their best players go, what have we got that’s really appealing for somebody to come and play for us?

“We’re constantly monitoring the situation. Of course we’ll have a number of targets, but it’s a moving part all the time.

“Things change daily as to who’s available. A player might be available one day and the next he’s not.

“We have to keep our finger on the pulse – if a player comes available that can help us we have to pounce, and I have to do my best selling act, my car salesman act, to get them to want to come to Barrow.

“There’ll be players that need to go out to play some football. There’ll be a couple that come in because we need to refresh the squad.

“Everybody’s talking about [the fact] we need a striker – it’s tough getting one of those that can guarantee scoring you goals in January.

“It’s going to be a tough market but we’ve got our finger on the pulse definitely.”

After Saturday’s dogged goalless draw in the FA Cup at League One side Ipswich Town, the Bluebirds’ bid to climb back up the League Two table resumes this week.

The visit of Salford tomorrow starts a run of December games in which AFC will be seeking an improved points haul in order to boost their prospects before January.

Chairman Hornby, in an interview on BBC Radio Cumbria, stressed that the club were ready to back Cooper in the market and that the club hoped to move quickly on targets.

And he said the club did not need to ship players out before they could bring some in.

“The money’s there for recruitment,” he said.

“Last year we were very scattergun; this time we’re being a lot more strategic.

“We know we only need two or three players. We’ll support Mark with whoever he wants, and we’ve done some good work already.

“Last year we were strung along with strikers and then ended up losing out on secondary targets.

“You are better off getting your targets early on. The aim is to move quickly.”