Paul Lambert wants Aston Villa to sign 'one or two players' during the current transfer window

Villa are only one point above the relegation zone

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert wants to bring in “one or two players” during the January transfer window - but not at the expense of the club's financial stability.

Villa are only one point above the Barclays Premier League's bottom three ahead of tomorrow's home encounter with fellow strugglers Southampton.

A lengthy injury list has deprived Lambert of several experienced players and he is aware of the need to strengthen before the end of the month.

But Lambert, who spent £23million during the summer transfer window, also knows the club club "cannot go bursting into major debt."

He said: "I understand the finances of it. The club cannot go into major debt. It's got to watch itself.

"It's something I'll meet head-on. I don't know how much, off the top of my head, the chairman (Randy Lerner) has put into the club. I'm pretty sure it's not light.

"I've spoken to him. There are one or two lads there that we will try to get. A lot is dictated by finance. We need a bit of strength in the middle of the pitch.

"Prices in January can be so inflated that you can pay through the nose for someone, and it's a guy you maybe don't want at the club.

"We have to build this club and not let it go back to what has happened before."

Lambert admits he has endured sleepless nights since Villa's shock 3-1 defeat at Bradford in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

But he thrives on the pressure of football and expects a positive response from his players against the Saints, who defeated Villa 4-1 at St Mary's earlier in the season.

He said: "You don't sleep. I think any manager will tell you that. It's not been a great two nights since Tuesday, let's put it that way.

"But I love the pressure of it and you have to meet it head-on. I'd rather have the pressure than not.

"You've got to have pressure to perform and that is the making of football and that is no different for the lads who are here.

"The fans were hurting after the other night and it was an embarrassment. I hurt like everyone else and the players are also hurt by the embarrassment of getting beat the way they did.

"They will want to put things right. The lads are down about what has happened but you have to pick yourself up and go again.

"You get on with it. You can't feel sorry for yourselves in football."

Lambert rejects the notion that Villa's current plight is down to his faith in up-and-coming talent and points to the struggles of the previous two seasons with more experienced players.

He said: "This football club has had experienced teams in the past and the position has not changed for the past three years.

"People say the current position is because the players are young. It's nothing to do with it. This club has been in the same situation for three years with really top players at this club.

"We have to build this club and get results while we are building it."

Skipper and central defender Ron Vlaar could return tomorrow after returning to training following a seven-week absence with a calf problem.

But striker Darren Bent will be sidelined for 10 days with the knee injury suffered against the Bantams.

PA