IT was all quiet for Newcastle United on transfer deadline day as the cost of missing out on a lucrative Champions League campaign hit home.
Manager Sir Bobby Robson had been considering a move for a new striker to boost a squad severely lacking the pace of injured forward Craig Bellamy.
But last Wednesday's penalty shoot-out defeat to Partizan Belgrade ensured there was no pushing through of any 11th hour deals.
And Robson actually rebuffed an approach from Southampton for out-of-favour flop Carl Cort.
Saints chairman Rupert Lowe revealed that the Premiership club had tried to broker a season-long loan deal for the player.
Lowe said: "We did make an enquiry about Cort but that is as far as it has gone. They want to hang on to him."
Robson knocked back the approach from the Saints, as he tries to find the root of the problem which has seen the Magpies fail to win any of their opening three Premiership fixtures.
And Cort, plagued with injury and fitness problems, could be handed a rare chance to restart his St. James' Park career after many months of disappointment.
The £7m misfit has struggled to recapture the form which helped him become an instant, if brief, hit on Tyneside following his move from Wimbledon in 2000.
But after the failings of Shola Ameobi in front of goal and Bellamy's trouble with a knee injury, Cort is battling with Lomana LuaLua, Kieron Dyer and Michael Chopra to start up front.
Another player who is set to remain at Newcastle is Robbie Elliott.
The left-back is well down the pecking order at the club, a fact further highlighted by Robson preferring to play midfielder Gary Speed in that role against Birmingham on Saturday.
And the Newcastle chief was prepared to allow Elliott to go on loan to Nationwide League Division One side Nottingham Forest.
But the former Bolton defender, who decided against a similar switch to Derby County last season, turned down the chance to move to the City Ground.
Forest boss Paul Hart remains optimistic that he could persuade Elliott to change his mind, he said: "Robbie's got a slight little knee injury at the moment but nothing serious and we're in the beginnings of negotiations about him with Nottingham Forest.
"It could be resolved early next week because the closure of the transfer window doesn't affect First Division clubs."
Meanwhile, midfielder Jermaine Jenas has had to withdraw from England's Under-21 squad ahead of their European Championship qualifier with Macedonia.
The PFA Young Player of the Year has been troubled with his wisdom teeth and will be missing for the game in Skopje on Friday.
David Platt will have Jenas assessed when they return from Macedonia before deciding whether Jenas can return for the must-win match with Portugal at Goodison Park on September 9.
"I can confirm that Jermaine will not be meeting up with us for the Macedonia game, but we will assess the situation again ahead of the Portugal game," said Football Association spokesman Andrin Cooper.
Read more about Newcastle United FC here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article