Slavisa Jokanovic says Watford must sign three players in the coming weeks or risk damaging their automatic promotion hopes.

The Hornets boss has told owner Gino Pozzo and sporting director Luke Dowling that he wants two more centre midfielders and a centre half.

The return of defender Sebastien Bassong and midfielder Adlene Guedioura to their parent clubs, and Jokanovic’s decision to stop Lewis McGugan training with the first team, meant Watford were already looking for three more signings, alongside centre back Vujadin Savic, who is training with the Golden Boys and has agreed a deal until the summer.

And injuries to midfielders Sean Murray and Almen Abdi have only heightened the need for further reinforcements.

Jokanovic said: “It is an obligation to bring players in. We are in trouble with many players out injured.

“January is one of the most important months in the Championship season and I expect us to make some positive steps because we are obligated to.

“I expect something this week or next week. We must sign one centre back and two midfielders.

“This is what I want. If there are more then that is good for us, if there are less then that is not good.”

Jokanovic does not conduct transfer negotiations himself, instead leaving it to Dowling, Pozzo and chief executive Scott Duxbury. The four men – along with chief scout Filippo Giraldi – work together to identify potential signings.

And Jokanovic said: “I will press my owner and my sporting director until February 2 when the transfer window closes.

“We are all agreed that we need more players. I recommended some names and the positions and now it is in their hands.”

Jokanovic would not confirm if potential signings were already training with the club but did state he does not expect any additions in time for tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) home match with basement side Blackpool.

The Serbian explained he attempts to go into matches with at least a plan A and plan B and that injuries meant his second option during last week’s 5-0 win over Charlton Athletic would have been a change of formation. With Gianni Munari a doubt for this weekend’s fixture, Jokanovic argued his plan B for Blackpool is weaker than the Charlton contest.

On Saturday wide-men Miguel Layun and Ikechi Anya played in the centre and the club do have young midfielders Connor Smith and George Byers available. But Jokanovic says Layun is not a long-term answer to the problem and wants more experienced specialists added to the squad as he chases a top-two finish.

On Saturday Jokanovic said: “In central midfield today we had two wing-backs in Miguel and Ikechi. I don’t want somebody to now believe we don’t need anyone in those positions.

“We need to buy some players who can help us because there are so many games in front of us. We need more people because nothing is perfect. The real situation is we need players in midfield.”

Yesterday (Thursday) he added: “I believe that we will very soon have three players. This must happen or we will be in trouble.”

One player the club are hoping to sign is Bolton Wanderers’ combative midfielder Jay Spearing.

Wanderers manager Neil Lennon has said the former Liverpool man will not be allowed to leave the club unless the Trotters make a few signings of their own this month.

Bolton have found it difficult to add to their squad in the current window, with Hornets duo Diego Fabbrini and Lloyd Dyer among those to opt for other clubs closer to home in Millwall and Birmingham City.

The Golden Boys remain the frontrunners to land Bolton’s Spearing but the Watford Observer was told earlier this week that a loan agreement was not close at that point.

“There will be no changes to Jay’s situation unless I get some bodies in,” Lennon told The Bolton News on Monday.

“We tried Fabbrini, couldn’t get the deal done, Lewis Baker (now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday from Chelsea), we couldn’t get that one done and Lloyd Dyer, we were interested in him but he wanted to stay closer to the Midlands.

“We really need to bring people in now and help the group we have got.”

Players are unable to join teams permanently once the window closes on February 2 but a week later clubs outside of the Premier League can sign emergency loans and youth loans until March 26.