BILLY Davies today insisted Nottingham Forest have still got work to do in the transfer market before the season kicks-off, saying: "So far we have only been playing catch-up."

The Reds have lavished close to £5m on nine new signings over the summer.

But Davies (pictured) is still hoping to add another defender and possibly a midfielder to his squad.

And, while he is delighted with the progress made in the transfer market so far, he says he is working hard to add further new faces, with Doncaster defender Matt Mills still a potential target, along with Leicester City's £2m-rated England Under-21 international left back Joe Mattock.

"I have said before that we have done some great work in the transfer market so far," said Davies. "But we are only playing catch-up with everyone else. It is not like we are spending money to put ourselves miles ahead of the opposition.

"If you look at the rest of the teams in the division, what we have done is added some new faces to what was a very thin squad.

"What we have now is a 20 to 22-man squad, which still has gaps in it, in my opinion.

"We still have work to do. But what we have done is do very well in the summer to support this young team with new signings; to add to what was a thin squad.

"All we have done, with the greatest of respect to some of the young kids, is replace the likes of Adam Newbold, Mark Byrne and Emile Sinclair, with the likes of Dexter Blackstock, David McGoldrick and Paul McKenna.

"We are not doing anything special. We are building our squad – because of the condition it was in – into one that can compete. Even with the additions, it will still be difficult. It is not going to be easy."

While defenders Joel Lynch and Chris Gunter both joined permanently last week, most of Forest's additions have come up front and in midfield.

And Davies hopes to add further strength in depth in his back four, with a central defender still high on his shopping list.

"We have specific players in mind, as we have done since the beginning of May," said Davies.

Forest named a strong team against Notts County on Saturday, although Chris Cohen, Guy Moussi, James Perch, Paul Smith and Joe Garner were all missing with slight injury problems.

But Davies says his team in the remaining two friendly matches – starting with the visit of Stoke tomorrow night – will not be a reflection of his starting line-up.

"What I am doing at the minute is looking at certain partnerships and combinations," he said.