Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness may be tempted to come out of retirement after being told he has no money to spend during the January transfer window - not even for loan signings.

The Magpies squad is already stretched to the limit with injuries, with the news this week made bleaker by the possibility that Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi may not figure againthis season, and Stephen Carr forced into a second hernia operation.

Souness hoped that would mean cash being made available to strengthen, but that has been dashed by chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Souness said: "The reasons we're not winning games is because we've not got our best players out on the football pitch. That's not an excuse, it's a fact."

The one positive thing is the return to fitness of Turkey international Emre, who is expected to start on the bench at home to Blackburn Rovers today.