Kinnear facing injury crisis

Kinnear: Needs an injection of quality

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Joe Kinnear admits Newcastle's mounting injury list is giving him cause for concern.

The experienced coach had guided the Magpies out of the relegation zone prior to a 2-1 reverse at Fulham on Sunday, with the North East outfit seemingly back on track after a shaky start to the season.

However, they slipped back into the bottom three as a result of the Craven Cottage setback and have seen their squad decimated by injuries.

Kinnear is well aware that his threadbare troops are not equipped to deal with the crisis, with Ignacio Gonzalez adding to his woes on Wednesday as an Achilles operation looks set to sideline the Uruguayan for up to four weeks.

Ammunition

He said: "If we can keep our best team together, then we are a far better, stronger side than we are when we lose key players.

"We have got enough ammunition about us, providing - and there is a proviso - that we stay with the squad we have got.

"If we pick up injuries, then we struggle. That's our Achilles heel.

"If two or three key players hit the wall, then we struggle to replace them, and that is something that should be addressed in the long term as we come to the next window.

"That's an area that needs to be addressed. It's the under-belly of the side.

Effort

"We have got people who are prepared to come in and give plenty of effort, but they haven't got the same sort of ability as the ones we are losing going out."

Kinnear is currently without Steven Taylor, as the centre-half has a groin complaint, while Mark Viduka and Alan Smith remain in the treatment room.

Spanish striker Xisco is struggling with a hamstring problem and Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez are still lacking match sharpness.

With this in mind, Newcastle are expected to delve into the transfer market when the window re-opens in January.