Hutchings has a case for the defence

A move for West Brom's Paul Robinson collapsed at the start of the month and Hutchings has now widened the net in a bid to secure a replacement before the transfer window closes.

He explained: "We were after Robbo but the situation was that West Brom didn't want to change the goalposts regarding the reports we had on the medical side, so that has fallen flat. Unless they want to change it then we won't be going down that line, we've got to move on."

Kevin Kilbane started the season at Everton on Saturday in the position made vacant by Baines' big money move to Merseyside.

And while Hutchings has every faith in Kilbane's ability to continue doing the job against Middlesbrough at the JJB Stadium on Wednesday night, he wants to bring in a specialist with Preston's Matt Hill and Scunthorpe's Marcus Williams among his reported targets.

He added: "I have got every confidence in Kevin playing in that position and while he's there there's not a problem, but it's something we need to address and we are trying to do that.

"We feel we have matters in hand at the moment and it's something we need to get sorted out sooner rather than later.

"We are looking at other full-backs. There has been a lot of speculation in the press regarding who we are looking at but any left-back of a decent quality we are going to be linked with."

While Hutchings looks to put the finishing touches to his defence, the return to fitness of Henri Camara means that he is spoiled for choice in striking options for his first home game in charge against Boro.

Camara has recovered from the knee injury which wrecked the second half of last season for the Senegal international.