GRAEME SOUNESS has pinpointed the loss of the club's 'big hitters' as the reason behind the Magpies' downturn in fortunes.

Newcastle were undefeated in the Scot's first nine games in charge. But starting with the reverse at Bolton in October they have lost seven of their following 16 Premier League games.

The slump has seen Newcastle slip from sixth to 13th and Souness believes he knows where the problem lies.

He said: "We started well when I arrived, when I had everyone fit. Our results only started to go down the pan when we started to lose our big hitters. We had (Alan) Shearer, (Stephen) Carr and (Nicky) Butt all missing for a long, long time.

"Those are three big players for this club and I'm glad that all three are back. Now we will see what we can do.

"Their injuries showed how fragile this squad is and demonstrated why I was so keen to improve the quality within the squad. We have a bigger squad these days."

Souness was speaking after the club returned from the controversial 'bonding' trip to Dubai, and revealed he now has a full squad to choose from for virtually the first time since he took charge at St James' Park.

Questions were asked about the need to take the squad on such a long trip when half of the team were away on international duty.

Souness, however, believed the trip was an important exercise in 'togetherness' for the rest of his troops, and an opportunity to get away from the wintry North-East conditions.

The United boss feels the Magpies have clearly benefited from the jaunt and says they are now fully refreshed and raring to go for Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with Heerenveen.

"We have a clean bill of health, and that's something I haven't been able to say many times," admitted the 51-year-old Scot.

"The boys who have been in Dubai have come back in great shape and the international players have all returned in good condition.

"The only player we won't have for the trip to Holland is Jean-Alain Boumsong, who is cup-tied. But everyone else is fine."

Souness was hoping to have a good start to second half of the season but, despite losing only one game this year, the team's stuttering performances have come under scrutiny.

The United boss, however, believes this will all change now everyone is fully fit.

"We have lost only one of our last eight games, although we haven't won as many as we would have wanted," he said.

Souness added Celestine Babayaro, Amdy Faye and Boumsong in the January transfer window to bolster his weakened side.

Babayaro and Faye have so far impressed, but Boumsong suffered a hamstring injury in only his third start for the club and is still an unknown quantity. Souness, however, is in no doubt he has snapped up three players of proven quality and has tipped them all to be a big success.

He said: "I think the three signings we made last month are three quality signings. We have brought in two out-and-out defenders and a defensive midfielder, and I think they will be good players for this club for years to come.

"We were back in training yesterday and we will be working hard today.

"We are travelling to Holland early on Wednesday morning and then we will get the players to their beds for the afternoon. We will train at the stadium on Wednesday evening and I'm sure we will be in good shape for the game the next night."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.