The Black Cats boss completed his second signing of the current transfer window on Monday when Senegalese defender Kader Mangane joined on loan from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, following the arrival of French midfielder Alfred N'Diaye from Bursaspor last week.
O'Neill's men have won four of their last seven games in all competitions as they prepare to host Bolton in their FA Cup third-round replay on Tuesday night and the manager does not want injuries to hinder their progress.
He told the Sunderland Echo: "I'm loathe to say we've got momentum going, but we've won four of the last seven and tonight we want to remain in the FA Cup.
"On February 1, whatever you've got left, that's it and we're still short here on players.
"Every side has had their injuries this season so we want to make some provisions for those things happening to us.
"They will be inevitable over the next few months."
O'Neill says Mangane was not a long-term target of Sunderland's like N'Diaye but hopes the defender will grab the opportunity with both hands.
"We've had loads of reports and seen loads of his games for Rennes," he added.
"But it would be untrue to say I've been tracking him for long, unlike Alfred, who I've been monitoring all season. We need a bit of help, some short-term help.
"If there's somebody who you feel will do a job and improve the team for a couple of years, I've no problem with signing those players in January and paying extra for them.
"But you can also look for short-term loans for people who might want to prove a point.
"We're a bit short at centre-back. Wes (Brown) is still not fit and you're never sure about John (O'Shea). You don't want to be short and the lad wanted to come."
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