Strengthening Aston Villa's threadbare squad in January "will be easier said than done", according to manager Martin O'Neill.

The Irishman added the likes of Ashley Young, John Carew and Shaun Maloney 12 months ago but his pool of players is still the smallest in the league.

And he insists there are no imminent arrivals expected at Villa Park as he looks to cement a top-six place during the second half of the season.

But he is aware of the need to draft in new blood to supplement a squad which has been fortunate to pick up only one serious injury during the first half of the campaign - to striker Carew who suffered knee ligament damage in September.

"We are going to spend some of the month trying to strengthen the squad," O'Neill said. "The players already here have made a colossal effort to get us to where we are and we don't want to throw it away now.

"Six of the players have been ever-presents and it would have been seven had (on loan) Scott Carson been allowed to play against Liverpool.

"However, strengthening the squad will be easier said than done. If people ask 'am I going to be signing someone today' the answer would be no, but we are doing all we can.

"We are looking at a couple of things. It is well documented we have got the smallest squad in the Premier League. We need to try to address that situation if we can."

Carew remains the main fitness doubt for Saturday's FA Cup clash against Manchester United with another knee injury which kept him out of the New Year's Day win over Tottenham.