Bolton Wanderers face a gargantuan battle to stay in League One this season.

After starting the 2019/20 campaign with a 12-point deduction, the Trotters are on just two points as things stand–bottom of the table and 15 points adrift of safety.

Their fortunes have certainly turned around since the Football Ventures takeover and the arrival of Keith Hill and some free agent and loan signings.

Hill's men strung together an impressive run in late October/early November but have fallen away in recent weeks.

It looks as though the January transfer window is going to be absolutely vital to the North West club's chances of survival.

With less than two weeks to go until the turn of the year, Bolton's assistant manager David Flitcroft has suggested work is already underway to ensure they get the best deals done.

With that in mind, here is the three-point plan they should have heading into January.

1. Extend the loan deals of some key players.

Bolton have leaned heavily on the loan market in the first half of the season, with a number of their key players arriving on temporary deals.

Some of those players, including captain Liam Bridcutt, defender Josh Earl and winger Thibaud Verlinden, are currently set to return to their parent clubs in January.

Bolton's first port of call should be to extend those deals until the end of the season, if possible.

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2. Add some more attacking reinforcements. 

It is no secret that Hill's squad is very thin. The area that seems to have impacted the Trotters the most is in the final third.

Bolton have scored just four goals in their last six games and need to add some more firepower if they're to stand any chance of going up.

They could do with a new left-winger, especially with Verlinden seemingly likely to leave in January, and some more support for striker Daryl Murphy.

The 36-year-old has been impressive so far but you worry about his longevity and the players behind him in the pecking order.

3. Add some experience at centre-back and in central midfield. 

Hill has got some good first-choice options in central midfield and defence but beyond those, he has to lean on young and inexperienced players.

Bolton could do with bolstering their squad by adding a few more players at those positions that have been there and done it.