AS one window closes, another opens for Wanderers, and there is a familiar problem to solve.

After missing out on Manchester United’s Nick Powell and seeing another top young talent, Liverpool’s Jordon Ibe, slip through his grasp, an increasingly frustrated Dougie Freedman prepares to renew his search for some extra options in attack this week.

The Whites boss had waited patiently for both players’ parent clubs to let them leave on loan but had to watch on as Leicester City and Derby County produced financial offers that he simply couldn’t match.

It isn’t quite a case of back to square one. The Scot has other names on his shortlist.

But considering the length of time it took to mount an offer for Ibe, or wait around for United to make a decision on Powell, Whites fans should perhaps not expect something to happen overnight.

Opportunity knocks as of Tuesday morning.

Rather laughingly called the “emergency window” – clubs outside the Premier League increasingly seem to look upon this time as a chance to pick up straggling waifs and strays to supplement their squad.

Loans of between 28 and 93 days can be struck between September 9 and November 27 and Freedman will be hoping he can find deals that have the same impact on his side’s poor start that Kevin McNaughton, Liam Feeney and Neil Danns did 12 months ago.

Premier League clubs announced their 25-man squads yesterday, which displaced a handful of senior players now searching frantically for regular first-team football.

Among them, Owen Garvan remains an option. The midfielder came close to joining Wanderers in the transfer window after being offered a short-term deal but wanted to try and find something more substantial.

He was excluded from Neil Warnock’s 25-man squad named yesterday and will almost certainly head out on loan.

But while the 26-year-old Dubliner has the creativity that Freedman has been lacking in the middle of the park, central midfield is also the best-stocked position in the Whites’ squad.

A striker remains the manager’s pressing priority but then it has since Lukas Jutkiewicz took up an offer from Burnley in the summer.

Freedman called for his front men to sharpen up after a wasteful afternoon at Leeds United on Saturday and clearly has not got the blend he would like.

Craig Davies has been workmanlike in the opening five games, Joe Mason has yet to fire and Jermaine Beckford has got some making up to do after his exploits at Elland Road.

The lack of a genuine wide man on the left makes his side slightly off-balance – but sympathy is in short supply.

Freedman is generally reluctant to make quick fixes to his squad but may have to take a swift and calculated gamble in the next few days and hope his next loan star makes a difference.