KELTY HEARTS are "trying to do a bit of wheeling and dealing" in a bid to add to their squad which suffered another injury blow at the weekend.

Player / manager Michael Tidser said he is doing his utmost to bring in reinforcements as the summer transfer window prepares to close this weekend.

His side remain top of League One, with eight points from their first four matches, after drawing with Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the weekend.

That, however, came at a cost, as both Tidser - with a muscle injury - and captain, Tam O'Ware, were both forced off by half-time, and are doubts for Saturday's trip to Dumbarton.

Tidser has previously spoken about trying to utilise the loan market and, speaking to Press Sport, he said: "I'm trying my hardest.

"It's getting more and more difficult, whether it's teams who are not willing to let boys go out on loan, who probably need to be playing, from your Premiership clubs, so we're trying to do a wee bit of wheeling and dealing, but it's a hard market.

"I'm sure every manager would say the same thing, so we'll see where we are next week.

"We've got off to a good start. That's three clean sheets, and two draws and two wins, so it's a good start to the season, but it's important that we try and get boys back.

"There's Lewis Moore, myself, Tam O'Ware, Adam Corbett and Liam Brown - we're missing key lads. Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, we'll start to get boys and help the squad.

"We'll see where we go over the first quarter. I always do it quarterly - I know most managers do it like that - but, over the first four games, I'm pleased.

"There's things that we can work on, there's things we can get better at, but that's why we're here."

On his own injury, he said: "I took a knock.

"I think it's a muscle I've pulled in my ribs, which I've never had before. I was really struggling - I could hardly run. It was weird, I could hardly breathe as well.

"Tam's taken a sore dead leg and he was actually sick at half-time as well. He was in real pain - he couldn't bend it. I've known Tam since he started his career, so I know he's an honest enough lad, and he just couldn't do it.

"In terms of Adam, he should be on the grass hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Liam Brown had an injection, that's a week to two weeks before he can start getting involved in contact.

"Moorey, again, it's a groin. I'm not sure how long, hopefully it settles down. Robbie Cole's knee locked up a couple of weeks ago in training. Again, that's five or six boys that are pivotal to the squad.

"They're all important, every lad in there's important, but if we can get boys back sooner rather than later, it just makes the squad a wee bit stronger and gives us a bit of depth."