The clock is ticking for Nigel Adkins if he wants to freshen up his Saints squad for the hectic and important schedule that lies ahead.

As of 5pm on Thursday, November 25, Football League clubs will not be able to register any new players until January.

The summer transfer window closed at the end of August, but teams outside of the top flight still have special provision to arrange temporary deals.

That ‘emergency’ period is coming to an end, though.

Daily Echo: For a video of the top stories in today's Daily Echo, click the front page.

After the close of business next Thursday, squads will be set in stone for the busy Christmas period.

Though the festive period is fast approaching, Saints still face eight games between now and the New Year’s Day visit of Paul Tisdale’s Exeter.

Among their fixtures are games against top two Brighton and Charlton and another against fifth-placed Huddersfield.

And it could be that Adkins looks to add numbers to a squad that has seen Jason Puncheon, Paul Wotton and Anthony Pulis depart on loan in recent weeks.

The manager has plenty of scope left to use the loan system should he choose to.

There are no limits to the number of emergency moves a club can make.

The only significant restriction is that no more than five loan players are allowed in a 16-man matchday squad.

As it stands, Saints have just two in the entire club anyway – Richard Chaplow and Guly do Prado.

For full story and more Saints news, don't miss today's Daily Echo.