Keith Millen insisted he will not be hurried into making panic signings during January.

Bristol City's manager has spoken publicly of his desire to recruit a defender and a creative midfielder to bolster his Championship squad.

But he is adamant he will not bring in new faces for the sake of it, despite a mounting casualty list that has reduced the Robins' numbers during a demanding Christmas and new year holiday programme that has stretched his resources to breaking point.

The transfer window opened for business last Saturday and, although Millen has been busy wheeling and dealing on the telephone, he said he is not yet close to completing a deal.

While City's players have been enjoying a well-earned two-day break, Millen has been behind his desk at Ashton Gate working tirelessly in a bid to drum up business.

He said: "We know what we need and we are working hard to bring new players to the club.

"January is always a crazy time and my phone has not stopped ringing this week. We have certain targets in mind, but nothing that is imminent.

"It is not easy to persuade clubs to let their best players go midway through the season and the fees tend to be inflated. For that reason, a lot of business is done towards the end of the month."

Millen has been told by City chairman Steve Lansdown he must trim his 36-man squad before he can recruit and the Londoner is prepared to listen to bids or consider loan deals for a number of players.

But given the lack of money available to many domestic clubs, the task of farming out those individuals who are surplus to requirements is proving more difficult than in recent years.

Winger Ivan Sproule, right-back Nicky Hunt, midfielder Gavin Williams and striker John Akinde are understood to be available, but City have yet to receive an offer for any one of them.

As revealed in the Evening Post last month, Sproule is attracting interest from Scottish Premier League Hibernian. But the Edinburgh club has yet to follow up an initial inquiry with a firm offer and Sproule's future remains uncertain.

Akinde is due to return to Ashton Gate this week after completing a three-month loan spell at neighbours Bristol Rovers. But the former Ebbsfleet forward struggled to make an impression at the Memorial Stadium and, although a few lower league clubs are understood to have shown an interest, none has offered to take him, either permanently or on loan.

Out-of-favour following a series of disappointing performances earlier in the season, Hunt could be excused for wanting to revive his career elsewhere. The fact he has played so few games, however, will hardly persuade rival clubs to take a gamble on him.

And Williams, who recently returned from a loan spell at League One Yeovil, is currently injured and is not expected to be fit until the final week of January.

Millen admitted: "Not only are we not close to anything coming in, there is no movement out of the club either.

"We do need to trim the squad and we do need to get some players out, whether it's on a full transfer or a loan. But we have just come through an extremely busy period in the Championship season and there is nothing to report at this stage."

Third choice City keeper, Stephen Henderson has completed his loan move to Yeovil until the end of the season.

City have an option to recall the Irishman should either David James or Dean Gerken get injured.