McAllister declared himself happy with the strength of his squad after Leeds chairman Ken Bates ruled out any possibility of Crystal Palace striker Dougie Freedman joining United for a second time, and he will look to ease the club's wage bill by moving on a handful of surplus players before September 1.

Ian Westlake and Sebastien Carole are among those senior professionals who were expected to leave Elland Road this summer – both players have been training with the club's reserve squad and are no longer part of McAllister's first-team plans – but neither midfielder has succeeded in finding a new club.

Westlake finished last season on loan with Brighton, who appear to have dropped their interest in a permanent deal after the appointment of Micky Adams as their new manager, and Carole returned to Leeds after a brief trial with French club Le Havre.

Leeds have recruited six players since their defeat in the League One play-off final and still have time to make further additions with the transfer window due to close a week tomorrow.

But McAllister's priority will be to reduce the size of his squad at Elland Road, and the 43-year-old said: "We need to move people out of the way before we bring people in.

"There are a few players here who know they've become surplus and that their chances of first-team football have lessened. Most people are aware of that.

"They've worked very hard and I have to give them credit for that because it's not nice when you train every day and know you're not going to be involved, but that's just the way it is in professional sport.

"If youngsters are coming through then other players have to make way for them, and as quality becomes greater you've got to allow that to come through as well.

"It's part of the game unfortunately and these players might need to try and find something else.

"But as far as people coming in goes, that will be dictated by people going out."

Paul Telfer became United's sixth signing of the summer 24 hours before their first game of the season at Scunthorpe United, and the large number of players registered to Leeds has left McAllister under no pressure to make any further signings this month.

The reserve team named by Leeds for Tuesday night's fixture against Huddersfield Town consisted almost entirely of first-team squad members who had not started last weekend's League One defeat to Oldham, and a number of youngsters are also beginning to edge closer towards United's senior squad.

Jonathan Howson, Fabian Delph, Ben Parker and Scott Gardner have already made the breakthrough, but striker Tom Elliott and left-back Aidan White caught the eye during Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Huddersfield at Elland Road.

McAllister said: "My feeling is that we've got a really strong squad here, there's no doubt about that.

"But if on any occasion we think we can strengthen or we need to strengthen then we've got to be ready. We're continually looking, watching games and picking up information on players who are surplus at other clubs.

"There's a lot of wheeling and dealing to be done, but the important thing for me is bringing in people who can make us better, not doing it for the sake of signing new players.

"I made my mind up about that very early in my managerial career. When you're bringing people in, they've got to be adding to the place rather than just beefing up numbers."

Whilst giving the experienced players who are not involved with United's first team the freedom to discuss transfers elsewhere, McAllister is also considering sending some of his younger contingent out on loan to introduce them to the rigours of the Football League.

White and Elliott delivered convincing performances against a strong Huddersfield line-up, and though both players may presently be viewed as too raw for moves out of Elland Road, McAllister will consider any loan opportunities if their progression continues at a rapid rate.

Midfielder Oliver Hotchkiss, meanwhile, featured for Rotherham United's reserves in midweek and may now be set for a temporary switch to the League Two club.

"He's one we feel could benefit from gaining league experience rather than playing in the reserves," McAllister said.

"His training performances are always excellent so it might be good for him to go out and have the pressure of playing real competitive football in front of a crowd.

"The only thing with Aidan and Tom is that they are very young. It might just be that it's better for them to be here under out supervision and under our eye at the moment.

"But they're progressing very quickly and it might be that at some point it's beneficial for them to go above the level of the reserves and gain some experience with a club in the Football League.

"That's a decision for me to make."

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