Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Parker fears the worst

26 Sep 2006 - 09:52:51

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Newcastle United midfielder Scott Parker fears that Glenn Roeder's wafer-thin squad will struggle this season if injuries start to bite.

The Magpies currently have Shola Ameobi, Damien Duff, Kieron Dyer, Shay Given, Michael Owen and Nolberto Solano injured while Titus Bramble and Celestine Babayaro are suspended.

Newcastle play a UEFA Cup tie against Levadia Tallinn on Thursday before a Premiership clash with Manchester United on Sunday and Parker fears the worst.

"We've not got the numbers where we can afford to miss people," he told the Daily Star.

"I'm not making excuses, but our squad is not big enough at the moment. We knew when the window shut we didn't have the biggest of squads.

"We're competing in Europe as well which is going to test our squad to the maximum. It might have to be backs to the wall at Old Trafford.

"We're running out of defenders and it will be hard. The season's going to be difficult."