Allardyce wants four players

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is determined to make up to four more signings before the start of the new Barclays Premier League season.

The 52-year-old has endured a frustrating two weeks in the transfer market after the flurry of activity which landed him Mark Viduka, Joey Barton, David Rozehnal and Geremi.

His pursuit of the top-class defenders he wants to strengthen his squad appears to have gone cold and he is ready to leave pre-season training in the hands of his staff as he attempts to get his men.

Allardyce said: "Unfortunately, everything this week progressed to a certain level and has fallen on stony ground and I haven't been able to pursue something to the full conclusion of actually bringing him in for a medical to try to finish off a transfer.

"It has been an incredibly frustrating two weeks. It takes up a vast amount of my time because it is the most important thing for me to strengthen the squad we have at the moment, and particularly the defensive area."

Meanwhile, Newcastle striker Michael Owen has picked up a thigh injury in training.

The 27-year-old got a knock in shooting practice and will miss Celtic's visit to Tyneside on Thursday evening.

However, manager Sam Allardyce does not expect the England international to be out of action for any more than ten days.

He added: "It's a slight thigh injury he picked up doing a little shooting exercise. Hopefully, it will be no more than a week or ten days and he should be back in training again.

"It may actually be a little early for the Celtic match, but Juventus on the Sunday is one we hope he can be fit for."

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