Mixu Paatelainen insists he will only add "exceptional" players to his Dundee United squad in January.

The Finn's first game in charge of the Taysiders ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Hearts on Sunday.

United remain at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership with five points from 11 games.

Paatelainen will first give his current players time to prove their worth before he looks to recruit but has set the bar high for possible new signings.

In an interview shown on STV's website, the 48-year-old former United striker was asked about bringing players in, especially with a view to adding to the experience of a youthful squad.

He said: "The board and the chairman have indicated there's the possibility to bring in players but we want to be careful in who we bring in because those players, if they come straight away, have to be exceptional.

"If they come in January they have to be exceptional because the squad we have when all the players are fully fit is not bad.

"We possibly will bring players in but we will make sure that they improve the squad.

"I want to assess the players first, what they have to offer and I have started that process already, looking at the players and how long they have left on their contracts.

"I'm nowhere near in a position to decide who we'll possibly offer a new contract or who we think might be better to move elsewhere, it's too early.

"I want to be fair to the players and give them a chance to show what they can do and we'll go from there."