ALAN Pardew is attempting to persuade Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to sanction the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Pardew is growing increasingly concerned by United’s lack of success in the transfer market and met Ashley yesterday to press his argument for more funds to be released.

Newcastle’s manager promised to battle with the board in order to sign the players he needs and, with injuries mounting, he has launched his first offensive.

Ireland has been linked with a wide array of clubs this month after Villa made it clear he could leave and the former Manchester City would add something to the squad, presuming he can rediscover the form he showed before moving to Birmingham.

Alan Smith has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury, while Dan Gosling has aggravated the knee injury which has sidelined him for the first half of the campaign.

With Steven Taylor sidelined for the next six weeks with a hamstring injury, Andy Carroll still failing to recover from a thigh strain and Ryan Taylor several weeks away from a return, Newcastle’s squad is starting to look fragile.

“I’ve got to have these battles with the board, absolutely,” said Pardew, when asked whether he needed to stress the need for new players to the United hierarchy. “I’d be very surprised and disappointed if we did not bring anyone in.

“I am a little worried about not getting anyone so far and I need to keep mentioning it.

“It is a worry that we have lost so many players to injuries.