Hans Backe says Manchester City must bolster their squad in the January transfer window. Injuries to Micah Richards and Michael Johnson have highlighted the lack of experienced cover at Eastlands. And City's assistant manager says the club must provide the financial support to help Sven Goran Eriksson bring in quality new faces if they are to maintain momentum into the New Year.

Backe told the Manchester Evening News: "We have this squad until the end of December, but good clubs are working all the time at identifying possible new players that will take them forward and we are no different.

"I am in a good position because I don't have to talk too much about that - it is the manager's job - but it is natural that players will come and players will go in January.

"I will have my input and Tord Grip is watching games every week in Europe.

"The whole scouting system has been alerted to the type of player we want to see come in.

"We are very well prepared for January if we get the chance to get the players we want."

Backe added: "It has been working very well but it is only 12 games so far and with the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and the international matches it will put a strain on us.

"We only really have 19 outfield players.

"When we have international breaks, we are down to six or seven in training and in a way we have a rather small squad. "We will have to wait until January to see how our prospects look for the rest of the season, but it is a case of `so far, so good'.

"Our start has been fantastic, especially when you consider how late Sven took over and how quickly we had to get players into the club.

"It has been very hard work so far, and we have to be honest and say we have had some luck too along the way, both with crucial decisions in matches and in terms of injuries.

"Any successful side has to have its fair share of good fortune, but you also make your own luck in some respects."