Andy Scott has vowed he will bring in a new striker before Brentford's visit to Macclesfield on Saturday.
The Bees boss is short on options up front after the appeal against Nathan Elder's sending off against Notts County last Saturday failed.
Scott's only choices at the moment to partner Charlie MacDonald in attack are Marvin Williams, who is more accustomed to life on the right wing, and rookie Moses Ademola, who has only made one start for the Bees since joining in the summer.
He said: "We tried putting Marvin up front with Charlie for the Aldershot away game last October, and it didn't work.
"We don't have enough numbers to work with what we've got on Saturday, and the games are coming thick and fast after that (Brentford host Aldershot on Tuesday, then have four games over the following fortnight).
"We have been working every hour since Saturday to get someone in, but at the same time I have to make sure it's someone worthy of their place.
"It's come at a difficult time, and it's made it even more of a pressing concern to get a new striker in. We're low in numbers up front.
"Ideally I'd like to bring in someone longer term than just covering for Nathan, but I can't cut off my nose to spite my face at the moment. If it's a short-term deal then so be it, the most important thing is to get someone in."
That person won't be Dean Bowditch, who returned to Ipswich last week after his three-month loan spell ended.
Although Scott wanted to keep him and Bowditch wanted to stay, his form with the Bees has given him a leg-up in the Portman Road pecking order.
Scott said: "I spoke to Dean on Tuesday, as well as Jim Magilton and Steve McCall at Ipswich.
"But Dean was in their squad on Saturday, and the message I got was he's very much in their thoughts.
"That's the trouble with loan players. If they're a success, their club will want them back. The same happened with Jamie Wilson."
