Manager Colin Calderwood has declared himself happy with his Hibernian side but insists he will enter the transfer market to bolster his squad.

The 45-year-old joined Hibs earlier this month after relinquishing his role as Newcastle assistant boss.

And the Scot is keen to utilise his knowledge of the English market.

"It's a market that is more familiar to me," he said. "The advantage up here is it's top-level football, compared to a league or two below down there."

Calderwood lost his first game in charge, a 4-2 defeat by Aberdeen at Pittodrie to leave Hibs in ninth place in the Scottish Premier League.

But he insists the players have responded well since he succeeded John Hughes.

"They're very enthusiastic, very open to what we're putting to them," he said.

Describing the transfer budget he has been given by chairman Rod Petrie as "absolutely perfect", Calderwood said it was too early to judge 16 of his first-team squad who will be out of contract in the summer.

Sometimes we might have to scrap and take points that we don't deserve and that might be the foundation for us Hibs manager Colin Calderwood

"It's pretty obvious that contracts will become shorter in football," he said.

"That will be an ongoing thing with each transfer window. I have to establish what values the players have for us at the minute and we are nowhere near that yet."

Calderwood, who managed Northampton and Nottingham Forest, added: "I fully intend to make sure anybody that joins the club adds to the quality we've got here and is an important and influential signing."

The Hibs manager is preparing for his second game in charge, Saturday's trip to Tannadice to face Dundee United.

"Sometimes we might have to scrap and take points that we don't deserve and that might be the foundation for us," he said.

"We've got to improve results. If the foundation of that is points first and performance after, then we'll take it."

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