Hearts manager John McGlynn admitted he could have done with Rudi Skacel in his side after Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Dundee at Tynecastle.
The visitors left with all three points as a second minute Ryan Conroy penalty secured them their first win in the Scottish Premier League.
Hearts dominated proceedings but could not find a way past Dundee keeper Rab Douglas.
The veteran denied Hearts on numerous occasions, including saving a first half John Sutton penalty.
"I'm not in the loop with regards to bringing players in." McGlynn admitted.
"I'm here to coach and pick the team.
"If anyone is asking themselves the same question, with 18 goals in the SPL last season, why does Rudi Skacel not have a team? I don't know the answer.
"I'm sure there are other teams than Hearts interested in him. Why is no one taking a chance on someone who's scored 18 SPL goals?
"We'd certainly have liked to bring in another striker, but with some players still free agents there still could be scope for that to happen."
McGlynn was without the services of David Templeton for the first time after the club sold the winger to Rangers on transfer deadline day.
The Hearts boss was pragmatic about the departure of one of his star performers.
"He [Templeton] was in the final year of his contract and the club have received a fair amount of money for him, so it's good business." said McGlynn.
"If he leaves at the end of the season for nothing then we've developed a player for someone else to get for nothing. That's financial suicide. You have to look at the bigger picture and understand that's the way the game is."
Barry Smith was delighted to leave Tynecastle with Dundee's first SPL win of the new season, but the Dundee manager knows there is still a lot of hard work to be done as his side battle against an immediate return to Division One.
"I'm delighted for the boys because they've put so much effort in all the games we've played this season." said Smith.
"To get that reward for their efforts was great for them.
"We're not kidding ourselves, we know it's going to be a long, hard season, and we can't get carried away by one result.
"But Tynecastle is a hard place to come, and to leave with three points is terrific and I hope they can take confidence from that.
"If they keep performing like that then we'll give ourselves a great chance."
