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West Brom boss Roy Hodgson will not make any panic buys to ease his side's crippling injury list during the January transfer window.

Hodgson will be without eight first-team regulars for the FA Cup third-round clash with Cardiff at The Hawthorns.

He has taken a further step forward in his efforts to sign Dundee United midfielder Scott Allen - a fee of £300,000 was agreed last month - after holding talks with the player on Friday.

But he will not sign players just to make up the numbers while Albion cope with the loss of Chris Brunt, Zoltan Gera, Shane Long, Steven Reid, Jonas Olsson, Jerome Thomas, Youssouf Mulumbu and Paul Scharner.

Hodgson said: "We are all in agreement that if people were out there that would really help us, and we could get them at a normal and not a January-inflated price, the club would be keen to do something.

"They would be keen to introduce some fresh faces and to give me a little bit of help and stiffening up in terms of our squad so we go into the last part of the season better equipped.

"But it is all ifs and buts, if the right player becomes available, if the price is right.

"There are so many things that all we can do is to sit back and continually monitor the situation, chase any targets that are realistic that we may have, and see what transpires.

"But I don't intend to panic in any way. Yes it is unfortunate to have as many players out as we did against Tottenham and now Cardiff.

"But I don't envisage that situation lasting through to the end of the season and hope to have some players back for the next league game against Norwich in eight days' time.''

Hodgson is aware of the pitfalls of signing players as stop-gaps to ease an injury crisis.

He said: "The one thing I'm always conscious of when signing new players is what is going to happen when the injured player gets fit again.

"It's then a question of `How is he going to fit in, where will his place be in the pecking order?

"It is an incredible luxury to sign players on two-year contracts when you only need them for three weeks.''

Albion agreed a fee for Allen on December 13 and Hodgson hopes to tie up the deal next week.

He added: "I've met him. He would turn out to be a very interesting signing if he passes a medical, the other negotiations go well and he decides we are the club for him.

"We are really looking forward to working with him. It is great to have attracted such an interesting young talent.

"I believe he has got other options but I'm hoping the conversations he's had with Dan Ashworth (technical director) and myself have gone well.

"I'm sure he's not down here just to wait his time. I'm very hopeful that come next week I'll be able to welcome him into the training session as our player.''

One player Hodgson does not want to lose the services of is striker Simon Cox, who has hinted he may have to leave because of a lack of first-team chances this season.

Hodgson added: "Simon is not one of the players I would be happy to see leave the club.

"He is not a player on my list to let go. If Manchester City or someone like that comes in and offer a lot of money, who knows. But it would certainly take offers we can't refuse.''

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay may be boosted by the return of Kevin McNaughton.

McNaughton limped off after just 18 minutes of the draw at Watford on Boxing Day with a calf injury and, as a result, was sidelined for the npower Championship clashes with Nottingham Forest and Reading over the new year period.

However, even if the defender is passed fit, he may have to be content with a place among the substitutes after Darcy Blake filled the right-back role in his absence.

Craig Conway may have to settle for a place on the bench again alongside fellow midfielder Stephen McPhail and striker Robert Earnshaw.