John Gregory admits a major re-evalutation of his Crawley squad is imminent.

But the Reds boss wants to get crunch games with fellow strugglers Leyton Orient and Colchester out of the way before deciding on changes in the January transfer window.

Crawley are just one place above the relegation zone and will slip into the bottom four if they lose at Orient on Boxing Day.

After entertaining fourth-bottom Colchester on Sunday, Gregory’s men do not have another game until they host MK Dons on January 10.

That will be the time to work out a plan of action for which players he wants on board – both in terms of the existing squad and potential signings – for the remainder of the season.

Five players – Brian Jensen, Josh Simpson, Conor Henderson, Lewis Young and Matt Harrold – were transfer-listed in November but all remain at the club after no suitors were found ahead of the loan window closing.

Gregory was down to the bare bones against Port Vale last Saturday when his bench included rookies Ryan Richefond, Bradley Isaacs, Emmett O’Connor and Charles Banya.

Top scorer Izale McLeod has one more game to serve of a three-match ban, Gwion Edwards is still recovering from a hernia operation and Simpson will be sidelined until the new year by a hamstring injury.

Although Marvin Elliott has signed a new one-month contract, that only compensates for the loss of Keith Keane who has returned to Preston at the end of his spell.

The 13-day period without a game – caused by Chesterfield’s FA Cup involvement – will be a chance for Gregory to make some decisions.

He said: “Within that period that will be the time for a big re-think.

“We will be sitting down, if not before then, after the Colchester match and discuss the way forward over the remaining months of the season.

“We do have quite a large break and it will be time to analyse the squad we have.

“We need to look at our squad, see where we can improve it, where we can make it better, what particular areas we need to strengthen to make sure we are playing League One football next season.”