GRAEME Souness received a double setback last night as Newcastle called off their pursuit of Nicolas Anelka and Michael Chopra limped out of the reserves' victory over Leeds with suspected knee ligament damage.

The Magpies' manager, who has spent most of the close-season unsuccessfully trying to sign a striker, faced the start of the Premiership season with just Alan Shearer, Chopra and the suspended Shola Ameobi as recognised attackers.

Shearer, who has also been injured, is fit for Sunday's trip to Arsenal, but Chopra must now be a major doubt after jarring his right knee in a 17th-minute challenge with Simon Walton and could face a lengthy spell out of action.

With England international Michael Owen set to stay at Real Madrid, Newcastle will be worryingly short of goalscoring options unless Souness is able to make a breakthrough before the transfer window closes on August 31.

He had hoped to have Anelka on board before then, despite the Frenchman's current employers, Fenerbahce, turning down United's initial £4.2m bid last month.

The Turkish side's president, Aziz Yildirim, recently warned the Magpies that Anelka would be going nowhere unless Freddy Shepherd offered the £13.85m needed to trigger a get-out clause in the striker's contract.

While Anelka has publicly declared his interest in a possible move to Tyneside, Yildirim's refusal to reduce his asking price has forced Newcastle to curtail their interest. "As Nicolas Anelka has only been at Fenerbahce for six months and the club have said he's never been for sale, we have been requested not to pursue the matter any further and we have agreed to do this," confirmed Shepherd.

"However, I can assure our supporters that we are still actively exploring other options in the transfer market."

The end of Newcastle's attempts to sign Anelka is merely the latest in a long line of problems to have hindered Souness this summer.

Owen's reluctance to move to St James' Park was perhaps to have been expected but the likes of Alan Smith, Robbie Keane, Christian Vieri and Mark Viduka have also been courted in recent weeks to absolutely no effect.

Even Souness' protracted pursuit of Fulham forward Luis Boa Morte continues to show no signs of a success.

Souness' pre-season plans are now in complete disarray given his inability to sign so many of his leading targets, and things could get even worse later this week if the Newcastle board choose to accept an improved offer for midfielder Jermaine Jenas.

Tottenham, who have already had a bid of £6m rejected, are expected to return with a package worth around £10m before the weekend.

Souness is desperate to retain Jenas' services but Newcastle's public status means their board are duty-bound to consider the financial benefits of accepting such a bid.

Sources in London last night suggested that Tottenham officials are becoming increasingly bullish about their chances.

Souness received more bad news yesterday when another transfer target, Francesco Coco, returned to his native Italy.

The left-back, who had been expected to sign a season-long loan deal after impressing in last weekend's win over Yeading, failed to agree personal terms for his proposed move from Inter Milan.

Coco is understood to have been demanding £60,000-a-week to join Newcastle.

His departure also leaves Souness' side short of options at the back, with first-choice full-back Celestine Babayaro nursing a calf problem that is almost certain to rule him out of Sunday's game. Steven Taylor is likely to line up as a makeshift left-back, with Craig Moore making his Premiership debut at centre-half alongside Jean-Alain Boumsong.

* Newcastle Reserves beat Leeds 3-2 at Kingston Park last night with centre half Paul Huntington firing the Magpies in front on 34 minutes. Gylfi Einarsson and Michael Ricketts put Leeds ahead but Newcastle hit back with Carl Finnigan tapping home and defender Peter Ramage grabbing the winner on 72 minutes.

Newcastle Reserves: Smith, Gate (sub Farman 52), Elliott, Ramage, Huntington, Clark, Brittain, N'Zogbia, Finnigan (Smylie 63), Chopra (sub M Walton 17), O'Brien. Subs not used: Cave, Forster.

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