Source: Northern_Echo
Pardew accepts a need for summer strengthening
ALAN Pardew insists he has enough players to see Newcastle through to the end of the season, but admits Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Everton underlined the need to embark on a major summer recruitment drive.[LNB] With Joey Barton and Stephen Ireland injured, and Ryan Taylor suspended, Pardew was forced to initiate a major reshuffle that saw Danny Simpson performing as an out-of-position midfielder and Steven Taylor pressed into action at right-back.[LNB] Things were equally threadbare up front, with the unavailability of the injured Nile Ranger helping create a situation that saw centre-half Mike Williamson and recent arrival Shefki Kuqi leading the line late on.[LNB] With just one more fixture to play in the whole of March, Pardew is confident his squad is big enough to cope with the remainder of the campaign. But with Andy Carroll's ã35m fee apparently available to him, the Newcastle boss accepts there is a need to make significant alterations this summer.[LNB] "I think the squad is deep enough," said Pardew. "We haven't really got any serious injuries, they're just knocks and strains, so we should have players coming back fairly soon.[LNB] "But I've always talked about a need to strengthen the squad in the summer. Ever since I arrived, I always thought the squad needs a bit more depth of quality.[LNB] "I think it's a bit harsh for me to talk about that side of things after the squad have given me so much effort against Everton. They were top drawer and I can't argue with what they gave me. Come the summer, though, I think we're all aware we need to bring some more players in."[LNB] Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez will be assessed later today after suffering leg injuries in Saturday's game. Gutierrez soldiered on until the conclusion, but Enrique was forced to withdraw before the interval and is already a doubt for the trip to Stoke on March 19.[LNB] "We'll have to see with Jose," said Pardew. "He says he has a little pull in the side of his leg, so that sounds like either an adductor or a hamstring. We'll have to see what the tests show."[LNB] Joey Barton and Stephen Ireland should both be available for the trip to the Britannia Stadium, however, and Shola Ameobi should be closer to full fitness having played for 47 minutes with the help of a protective face mask at the weekend.[LNB] "It was great to see Shola put in a fantastic shift," said goalkeeper Steve Harper. "It was incredibly brave of him wearing a mask and playing, especially given the damage he suffered.[LNB] "It's a massive credit to him. I didn't tell him he was crazy because he's a local lad and he knows what it means to play for this club. He put himself on the line to be out there. The damage to his cheekbone was really bad, so it's a real effort from him."[LNB]
