Trio linked with United ahead of cash summit

Dec 30 2008 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

JOE Kinnear will learn the size of his January transfer budget this morning when he meets Newcastle United’s top brass.

And The Journal understands the club are preparing moves for a trio of Championship transfer targets if the Magpies boss gets the green light to spend. After reversing his intention to sell the club, owner Mike Ashley is under intense pressure to provide Kinnear with funds to strengthen a squad ravaged by injury – and he will be aware that the indecision that has typified previous transfer windows must not be repeated.

Kinnear is certain that funds will be provided, however, and tentative enquiries have already been made ahead of the window opening in the New Year.

The Newcastle boss will not be drawn on names but The Journal understands the club have made an enquiry about Wolves’ England Under-21 international Michael Kightly and are also considering bids for Reading striker Kevin Doyle and Cardiff’s Wales midfielder Joe Ledley.

The Newcastle boss will also consider bringing in “class” players on loan until the end of the season if permanent deals can not be brokered.

Kinnear’s priority would appear to be filling the gaps created by an injury crisis that has ruled out ten first-team players.

The news worsened yesterday with confirmation that Habib Beye will be missing for longer than first feared – up to eight weeks, according to the Newcastle boss.

That makes this morning’s meeting – believed to be between Kinnear and managing director Derek Llambias – vitally important, with the United manager

desperately in need of good news in terms of his transfer budget to lift the mood after the heavy defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

“I’m talking to the chairman this morning about it and I should know more by the end of today,” he said.

“January is not an easy time to buy anyone and clubs are not desperate to sell either but we have made enquiries about players already. I won’t talk about other teams’ players but we’ve got ten players out – most of them won’t be back until the end of January – so we need extra bodies.

“If we can’t bring in players permanently then we’ll get the class loan players in until the end of the season.

“I’m sure that I will know more by the end of the day.”

Kinnear was yesterday assessing the damage wrought to his squad by the festive programme, with up to ten players ruled out of this weekend’s trip to Hull City.

As well as missing Beye, Kinnear will be without Jose Enrique, Claudio Caçapa, Sebastien Bassong, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi, Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Mark Viduka for the FA Cup trip to the KC Stadium.

Nicky Butt is also a doubt, being assessed by the club’s physios after being forced off during the Liverpool defeat.

That crippling injury list gave Kinnear further cause to be downcast, following on from Newcastle’s 5-1 mauling at the hands of Liverpool, a result which he admitted “ruined his Christmas”.

The only positive that the Newcastle boss took from the afternoon was the humbling support of the St James’s Park, which he has urged his players to repay by staying in the Cup on Saturday.

“The Liverpool game and the injury problems are a real downer. We were just getting something together and then we get all those injuries. Somebody said to me ‘Happy Christmas Joe’ – I felt like throttling them,” he said.

“The only positive is the supporters, who were absolutely unbelievable on Sunday.

“They supported the team all the way, even when we were 5-1 down, and they are an absolute credit to this football club. I just want everyone to know that it is really appreciated and we’re doing our best to repay them.”

Kinnear says his only regret from Sunday’s encounter at St James’s Park was attempting to chase the victory in the second half.

“Perhaps looking back I was a little bit gung ho going for it in the second half by bringing on Shola (Ameobi) but I didn’t think we could afford to sit back and try and defend and hit them on the break because they were attacking so well. As it was the second goal killed us,” he admitted.