Pardew expects January acquisitions

Alan Pardew has indicated he wants to add to his Newcastle squad during the January transfer window.

The Newcastle manager is focusing on making French international Hatem Ben Arfa his first permanent signing at St James’ Park with the current loan star recovering from injury and aiming for a January return.

However, while Pardew suggested there could be ‘one or two’ new faces to bolster his squad, he warned that nobody would be leaving – which ruled out exits for Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor, with the defender expected to pen a new deal.

Pardew, whose side take on Manchester City on Boxing Day, said: “There is a lot of press about players going in and coming in.”

“Maybe there will be a couple of players coming to give us enough cover. The most important thing is making sure we keep the players we have got and go forward.”

“That is my focus on Ben Arfa as well.”

Pardew woke up to headlines this week linking Carroll with a move to Manchester United.

But he said of the matter: “Due to the rapid rise of Andy he will get the attention.”

“We don’t want to do any business, part of my role is trying to analyse the players that we do have.”

United will be without Sol Campbell (illness) and Shola Ameobi (hamstring) against City, with Nile Ranger set to start in attack for the Geordie side.