NEWCASTLE manager Sam Allardyce insists he can still take some positives out of his side's underwhelming performance at Derby County.

United's 1-0 defeat at Pride Park was the club's most insipid display of the new season. But despite the lumbering nature of Newcastle's play Allardyce believes he can still take some inspiration from the loss at the Premier League's bottom club, as he was able to hand late transfer window signings Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye their United debuts.

The Magpies boss believes it was important to blood his new recruits as soon as he could but none more so than Beye.

"It was nice to get Habib (Beye) and Abdoulaye (Faye) on the field on Monday night," said the 52-year-old chief who registered his first loss in six league and cup outings against Billy Davies' side.

"Abdoulaye has played in the Premiership for two or three years with me at Bolton so he is OK to come straight in.

"Habib Beye has to find his way in English football and that could take a little bit more time. He got a little taste of what the Premier League is about on Monday night against Derby, albeit a very disappointing one, and he will be important to us in the next few weeks.

"It's important we get our squad back together. We need Mark Viduka, Damien Duff, Jose Enrique and even Celestine Babayaro to be fit.

"We need a full squad available, especially with the week coming up where we have three games in six days and our resources are stretched."

Viduka is hopeful of making the United line up when West Ham visit St James' Park on Sunday.

He limped out of Newcastle's clash with Wigan at half-time with a hamstring strain three weeks ago.

Allardyce will be hoping the Australian international will be joined by Michael Owen, who was substituted only ten minutes in to the second half of United's clash with the Rams because of a tight groin.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer made known at the launch of his new book, My Illustrated Career, he would be attending United's clash with the Hammers - and he is another who wants to see Owen and Viduka in tandem.

And Shearer went as far to say that Owen and Viduka would be his first choice pairing to spearhead the Magpies' attack this term.

"Ideally it would Mark Viduka and Michael (Owen) but I'm sure (Obafemi) Martins and Shola (Ameobi) will have something to say about that" said a diplomatic Shearer.

"Both are very talented players in their own right and Alan Smith can also play there.

"I think what is healthy (at United) is that there is competition for places in every position."