Newcastle reviewing transfer policies - Pardew
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has admitted the club is analysing whether or not they might have done more in the summer transfer market.
The Magpies signed only one senior player, Vurnon Anita, during the closed season after pulling the plug on proposed deals for experienced defenders Mathieu Debuchy and Douglas having decided they did not make financial sense.
However, the demands of European football and a series of injuries and suspensions have hit Pardew's squad severely in recent weeks, and its depth has been painfully exposed by four successive Barclays Premier League defeats.
In the short-term, the manager is concentrating only on Monday night's home clash with Wigan and the task of securing a much-needed victory, but with the January transfer window looming large, a plan is being drawn up.
Pardew said: "We have been unlucky, but we are in the process of analysing whether we under-cooked it, and that's what we should do.
"It would be silly not to."
France full-back Debuchy remains in Newcastle's sights, but it is perhaps in central defence where the greatest need for reinforcement lies with Steven Taylor sidelined until February and utility man James Perch the only real back-up to skipper Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson.
The deficiencies in Pardew's squad have been highlighted by consecutive league defeats at the hands of West Ham, Swansea, Southampton and Stoke, but he insists the picture is changing constantly and now is not the time to make hard and fast decisions.
He said: "It's increased the discussion mode on that. We obviously had an idea of where it was going to go, but it probably is going to change before we get there.
"It's very important just to keep our eye on the ball."
Pardew will be without utility-man James Perch for Monday night's crucial home clash with Wigan.
Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (toe) and Yohan Cabaye (groin surgery) and striker Shola Ameobi (groin) are all out.
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is preparing to paint Newcastle red.
The Latics manager was boosted by the first hour of his side's performance against defending champions Manchester City in midweek and hopes the debut of Wigan's new all-red third kit will evoke memories of previous successes.
It will be the first time Wigan have played in red since 2003 when they were crowned Division Two champions.
Martinez hopes the return to red will help evoke a winning mentality against a Newcastle side desperate for a win.
"We have some very happy memories of playing in red kits and I feel it's important that you associate iconic kits with success," the Spaniard said.
"Hopefully we will be able to look back on Monday's game with similar sentiments.
"First when we wore red it was a very nice moment in the victory against Huddersfield in the 100 point season to get promotion and I don't think we were very lucky with our third kit being white so we're looking to see how we can perform with this new kit."
Wigan are unable to play in blue and white stripes or black due to Newcastle's shirt designs.
The Magpies, who are just one place above Wigan in the overall league standings in 14th place, will be hoping to turn around their form after they failed to win a game in any competition last month.
Their most recent victory came at home to West Brom on 28 October but Martinez is refusing to take Alan Pardew's side lightly.
"We need to remember that Newcastle are capable of reaching really good heights of performance and results," Martinez said.
"Remember what they achieved last season was a phenomenal achievement and it's going to be a very difficult game.
"Sometimes in this league you can get in a run of bad results but we're going to expect Newcastle to perform very well on Monday and make if difficult.
"But from our point of view you get that feeling that you can't wait to get out on the pitch again after Wednesday.
"After the performance on Wednesday you get the feeling of frustration to get a positive result and we are looking forward to the next game and that is at St James' Park which is a phenomenal football environment."
Martinez has rated both defender Gary Caldwell and midfielder David Jones as "50/50".
Jones picked up a knock to his calf during the Manchester City game, while Caldwell is recovering from a hamstring problem.
Midfielders Albert Crusat (knee) and Ben Watson (broken leg), winger Ryo Miyaichi (ankle), forward Shaun Maloney (groin) and defenders Antolin Alcaraz (groin) and Ivan Ramis (hamstring) remain on the sidelines.
Source: PA
