Keates, who has seen his side struggle for form over recent weeks, is keen to add to his squad during the January Transfer Window, but insisted that he will only be signing players who can fit in with the current crop as he looks to get his side heading back towards the top-half of the table.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Dean said; "January is absolutely massive for the football club if we want to move forward. That means bringing the right characters and personalities into the club.
"Hopefully we will have one or two new arrivals in the next week. And then we have to make sure we pick up enough points in the games coming up."
Keates, who has already added Norwich City winger Matt Jarvis and KV Mechelen midfielder Omar Mussa to his squad, went on to admit that he often has to be patient in the current market - before revealing that there may also be an outgoing before the month is over.
Keates continued; "Maybe there will be one going out. When it comes to the ins, at the moment we are speaking and making phone calls. Hopefully we will get some good news soon.
"As it stands, at the moment, there are players and agents pushing to get the most they can. We are always going to be one of the last choices, unfortunately. That is what we are about as a football club.
"But we need to stick together, pull together and we showed when I played here that we can always defy the odds."