Alan Pardew is excited by Newcastle's summer recruitment plans - but will put them on ice until their Barclays Premier League status is assured.
The Magpies boss has instructed his scouting team to scour the world for new talent as he attempts to build a squad capable of establishing the club in the upper reaches of the division. However, he knows he must first ensure they remain in the top flight by making a strong final push, starting with Saturday's visit of Wolves to St James' Park.
Pardew said: "That focus is something that excites me, but it is very much secondary in my mind at the minute because the job in hand is to make sure that we are a Premier League side."
He added: "The way the league is congested and how tight it is - 36 points at this time with eight games to go, we should have a fair bit of breathing space, but we haven't, of course, because the team at the top of the relegation area has 32.
"It's a period when you have to concentrate and give everything in every game, and as long as I am manager, that's what we will do."
Mick McCarthy's men will head for Tyneside sitting inside the relegation zone - seven places, but just four points adrift of Newcastle - and anything but a positive result for the Magpies could see them sucked to the fringes of the mire.
Newcastle have taken just one point from their last three games, two of which were played at home. They have not won on their own turf since January 5, when West Ham were trounced 5-0.
That run of four games includes creditable draws with north London duo Tottenham and, in spectacular style, Arsenal, but there is little doubt that a significant improvement is required if they are to end the season in comfort rather than scrapping for points.
Pardew said: "You want to win your home games - it's important. It's important for your fans and everybody who turns up. We have 50,000 people there and we want them to go home with a smile on their face having seen their team win, and we haven't done that enough this year.
"We have got some important home games to come and the position in the league will be determined by how strong we are at home from now on in."
Source: PA
