Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has admitted strengthening in January "will be easier said than done" as he looks to expand the smallest squad in the Premier League.

The Irishman insists there are no imminent arrivals expected at Villa Park as he looks to cement a top-six place during the second half of the season.

O'Neill said: "We are going to spend some of the month trying to strengthen the squad.

"The players already here have made a colossal effort to get us to where we are and we don't want to throw it away now.

"Six of the players have been ever-presents and it would have been seven had (on loan) Scott Carson been allowed to play against Liverpool.

"However, strengthening the squad will be easier said than done. If people ask 'am I going to be signing someone today' the answer would be no, but we are doing all we can.

"We are looking at a couple of things. It is well documented we have got the smallest squad in the Premier League. We need to try to address that situation if we can."