PAOLO Di Canio is still targeting one more loan acquisition before the emergency window shuts on Thursday, but after seeing a deal fall through last week he is refusing to get his hopes up.

The Swindon Town manager has brought in Danny Hollands and Chris Martin since the Robins emerged from embargo a fortnight ago but failed to lure Joe Riley to the County Ground from Bolton and, according to Di Canio, missed out on another unnamed player last week.

With less than 72 hours to complete a deal the Italian has stressed that nothing is certain to happen, but in an ideal world he would like to add another attacking option to his squad before the deadline passes.

“I hope so, I have this intention,” he said. “It’s not easy, I have to be honest, because today and tomorrow I don’t want to be talking about it.

“One I would like to bring in but it’s not easy because at this moment there are many injuries at other clubs, like us. We were nearly to bring in one a few days ago next to the others that joined us and then someone got an injury.

“There was a mix at the club that was nearly to sign one player and in this club there was one injury, they didn’t loan this player and the other team that should have given us this player didn’t give him the chance to join us because they remain without one player.

“It’s difficult because now the number of players I would like to have in here is very few. I don’t want to bring one in just to bring one in.

“I would prefer to remain with my players.

“I was happy with the last few games because as a team we performed well and as a line we did very well.

“If I had the chance in the past I would bring in one and one (one defender and one attacking player) but now we have a group of good strikers, good wingers and midfield players but in the game you can concede anyway - you have to score one more than the others.

“This year we have discovered we are one of the best defensive sides. I prefer to have a chance to have quality from middle to up front.

“It’s not easy. There is one but we have to wait again for other people’s situation. If they can go through in maybe the last few hours at the end of the loan window we can get him. Otherwise no problem.”