OWEN Coyle hopes to be able to spend some of the money from the sale of Andy Gray to strengthen his Burnley squad this week.

The Clarets manager has a number of players in his sights, after getting assurances from the board that £1.5million - the least amount the club will receive from Charlton Athletic - will go into his transfer fund.

Coyle has not ruled out making an improved offer for Sheffield Wednesday's Glenn Whelan, after his initial approach was rejected. And Ipswich Town target man Alan Lee has been touted for a possible return to Turf Moor, over seven years after leaving. But the 29-year-old, who could cost just under £1million, is just one line of enquiry.

"We've got considered bids just now with two or three players. That money will be spent; it will not be sitting there idle," confirmed Coyle.

"I'm always hopeful. Having said that everything changes on a phonecall.

"We will not panic into signing players that we don't think complement the ones we have.

"We've never had a big squad since I came in given the long-term injuries, but we will look to bring players in that we think are the right quality for the football club."

But Ade Akinbiyi went some way to ending his search for a new target man without needing to dip into the transfer pot after scoring one and helping to create Robbie Blake's winner at Coventry on Saturday.

The 33-year-old failed to make the 16-man squad for the visit of Plymouth Argyle last weekend with a back problem, but recovered to play his part in securing back-to-back wins.

"Ade doesn't have to do anything to step into Andy Gray's shoes. Ade Akinbiyi just has to be Ade Akinbiyi, which he showed (on Saturday)," said Coyle.

"He's started three games for me and scored two goals, and the other game against Bristol City he could have scored two or three. He hit the woodwork twice.

"So Ade's been patient, he's worked hard, and even when he's not starting games I think his sense of togetherness with the players ... I can't speak highly enough of him as a man. He's a total professional.

"Given the career he's had it would be very easy for Ade to come to me and say I want to be playing week in week out'.

"But I've spoken to him and he said he's prepared to knuckle down and await his chance, and I think he took it and showed what a top player he can be."

He added: "Yes, we're short of numbers and we'll look to add to that and try to bring players in, but when you look at Ade Akinbiyi (on Saturday), I thought from start to finish he was outstanding and led the line."

And Coyle was delighted with the manner in which Akinbiyi and Blake's goals were scored.

"I thought they were two real football goals," he said.

"I felt over the 90-94 minutes that we probably did deserve the three points, but having said that I think at 1-1 the game could have gone either way.

"For a neutral, I thought it must have been a fantastic game of football because it was two teams committed to all-out attack, which led to numerous opportunities at both ends.

"We always seem to score the perfect goal - I wouldn't mind us scoring a few scrappy goals as well. If we can add that dimension to our play we'll be a threat for most teams."

The Burnley boss admitted he was disappointed with the goal conceded after the defence had several opportunities to clear the danger, but added: "Again there are some things we can pick up on.

"We're certainly not the finished article; we've got a long way to go to try to do that."