JOHN Coleman hopes to establish the future of his crop of loanees over the next couple of weeks as he begins planning for the second half of the season.

The Reds have seven loan players on their books, with only five able to play in a matchday squad.

Goalkeeper Connor Ripley, defender Matty Platt and striker Luke Charman have deals until the end of the season although they could all be recalled in January while the remaining quartet - Connor Hall, Dan Barlaser, Michael Ihiekwe and Nick Anderton - have contracts until the start of next month.

And Coleman admits he hopes to get their futures resolved before Christmas.

“We are ongoing at the moment on those and we hope to find out more in the coming weeks,” he said. “We are at the mercy of parent clubs and we have to decide what we want to that.

“We have these conversations on a daily basis but ultimately it is not their decision, it is the decision of the clubs.”

The Reds chief is also looking to strengthen in the winter window.

“I have a couple of players lined up to come in, in the first week of January,” added Coleman.

“You have to assess what you think you need.

“We are all learning all the time, we made quite a few changes from last season and players have had to adapt.

“Players like Nick Anderton have benefited from playing regularly but we will have to see what happens in January.

“We definitely need more goals and we have one or two irons in the fire.

“I have been hamstrung and haven’t been able to give players like Luke Charman much game-time because of the five player loan rule.

“I would like to see Connor Hall get a good run before the end of his loan spell.”

Hall has been behind Billy Kee and Offrande Zanzala in the pecking order at the Wham Stadium but could be handed a start in the Checkatrade Trophy tonight while Charman and Platt will also hope to be involved having struggled for starts this season.