Leeds United: Steve Evans needs 'five or six' players to avoid Championship relegation battle

Leeds United manager Steve Evans says he needs to add "five or six" players to his squad before the end of the January transfer window. It took just 17 seconds for the Yorkshire club to fall behind on Thursday 29 October when Blackburn's Craig Conway fired home at the far post. Jordan Rhodes added another five minutes later as Leeds' hopes of ending a winless home run that now stretches to almost eight months were firmly extinguished.

Evans, who was named Uwe Rosler's replacement at Elland Road on 19 October, insists the club will not get pulled into a relegation battle, despite sitting just four points off the foot of the Championship, but says he needs more from his current group of players.

"We won't get sucked in [to a relegation fight]. I've come here to sort it out. Let's be honest, if the actual playing squad was left, it would be a battle to stay in the division, but we are going to address some of that," he said, ITV Sport reports. "We are going to try. All you can do is try isn't it? We're going to have to bring some players in. We are capable of getting a result or two with the squad we have, but so many people have to give us more."

Evans is hoping to start adding players to his squad right away but envisages most of their incoming business taking place in January. He said: "I don't mean five or six before Tuesday and I don't think five or six before the window. It will be a massive window to what we do, but before then there is lots and lots of points at stake, so maybe two or three before now and the window."

Evans's side managed draws away to Fulham and Bolton in his first two games in charge but was unable to stop the rot at Elland Road on 29 October.