This may be a much-needed time for his players to get their feet up but John Askey is hoping he'll be finding much with which to busy himself this week.

The Macclesfield Town manager has been crying out for the green light to add to his squad and this week club owner Amar Alkadhi says he will be allowed to do just that, with new faces a possibility before the Silkmen next take to the field against Kidderminster Harriers.

Askey has a three-fold wish-list, and hopes to add to his defensive, midfield and forward ranks.

Extending Denny Johnstone's loan from Birmingham City could take care of the attacking aspect and as far as his back line goes Askey has designs on a return for Luke Waterfall.

The towering centre-back won over supporters during his three-month stay on loan from Scunthorpe United and after returning to the Iron after a second loan spell, at Mansfield, is high on the manager's shopping list.

Luke Waterfall
 

“It's not a big ask for someone to come in for the last four months of the season,” said Askey. “We need another centre-back to come in and if there's a chance of getting Luke back in then we'll do what we can, but I am trying.

“And we’ll try to keep Denny, Birmingham have said we’ve got first shout on him and after a performance like he put in at Grimsby, who wouldn’t want to take him?

“He’s getting better with games and he needs first-team football to develop as a player, so he’s better off with us and hopefully we can get that done.

“It's just a shame that we haven't been able to make these plans sooner, we should have been talking to people and negotiating in December. I can only do what I can do, as can the players, there's not been any forward planning.

“We're third in the table. We need to keep it going and capitalise on that but we've not been allowed to give our hopes a push. Promotion back to League Two would bring in a lot more than we'd need to spend now as well.

"It's obviously not as simple as throwing a lot of money at it. If someone said 'here's a million pounds, go and get some players' it would help but wouldn't guarantee anything.”

The Silkmen boss has been able to bring in Danny Rowe and says he's pleased with how the winger, who returned in time to face the Mariners on New Year's Day, has started his second spell. That Blundell Park victory was a fine – and much-needed – sign-off before a 16-day break from Conference action.

“Danny's slotted back in well, he's a local lad who knows what we're about and he gets on well with the lads already at the club,” added Askey, who'll run the rule over the Harriers when they host Altrincham this weekend. “That's important, their character is a big part of our squad. We need to get the right people in and with Danny I think we have.

“And this break will do us good, it's come at the right time. We suffered a bit at Bristol Rovers but now we're able to regroup and rest a few knocks.

“And when we next have a game we'll have Will Haining and Paul Lewis available again after their injuries. They'll play in the Cheshire Cup game (at Hyde on January 13), and so will Dan Cowan.

“It's not ideal to have this game to get through as we can't be risking a lot of players. But that's the situation we're in.”