ANDY Carroll was part of the Newcastle squad that flew to a Portuguese training camp yesterday, with club officials dismissing suggestions his thigh injury was considerably worse than first feared.

Carroll has missed the Magpies' last five matches after injuring his thigh in last month's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham, and rumours emerged yesterday morning suggesting he could be sidelined for another two months.

Those tales contradicted Alan Pardew's comments in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Tottenham, in which he spoke of the striker's possible involvement in Newcastle's next Premier League fixture, an away game at Fulham on February 2.

Carroll is still being lined up for a place in the squad at Craven Cottage, with this week's four-day trip to the Portuguese resort of Faro expected to play a pivotal role in his rehabilitation.

The England international was ruled out of last weekend's game with Spurs at an early stage, but there is no suggestion that his ongoing problem will require the kind of surgery that might have resulted in a two-month lay-off.

Instead, Carroll will gradually build up his training schedule this week in the hope of being available to face Fulham.

In his absence, Newcastle have embarked on a four-game Premier League unbeaten run that might have featured four straight victories had it not been for the concession of stoppage-time goals against Sunderland and Spurs.

Shola Ameobi, Leon Best and Peter Lovenkrands have contributed five goals in four games, a return that has allayed fears of an inability to cope without the presence of the club's leading goalscorer.

Saturday's draw left the Magpies just one point off seventh position, a situation that has forced a reassessment of the pre-season plans that saw survival cited as the club's only ambition.

"We have the squad and the ability to finish in the top ten now, and that should be our target," said Lovenkrands, who impressed as a 65th-minute substitute at the weekend.

"A few of us went into this season with a point to prove, and I think we have done that. But I also feel there is more to come from the team and myself as an individual.

"I think we are playing fantastically at the moment, and I also think we've exceeded expectations so far. I don't think many people thought we'd be seventh or eighth in the table with half the season gone, but we're playing some really entertaining football.

"We have also dropped points we shouldn't have though. Maybe that shows how far we've come, we are actually disappointed with how many points we've got, especially after the last couple of games."

Like Carroll, Lovenkrands flew to Portugal yesterday morning, but with double training sessions planned for today and tomorrow, the Dane is not expecting a spell of relaxation.

"It certainly won't be a holiday," he said. "I think the manager has double training sessions planned for us, but it will just be nice to get away and work outside knowing we aren't going to have any problems with the weather."

As well as overseeing training, and a DVD viewing session that will focus on the concession of last-minute goals, Pardew will also be keeping an eye on the transfer market.

Newcastle have made a formal inquiry about Stephen Ireland, but will not be taking the Aston Villa midfielder on loan unless his parent club agree to pay a significant proportion of his wages.

Pardew has also kicked off contract talks with Joey Barton, who is due to enter the final year of his current deal at the end of the season. Crucially, Barton is willing to accept a cut in wages in order to extend his stay at St James' Park.

"I have started discussions with the club, and everything seems to be going in the right direction," said the midfielder. "Hopefully, we will get that sorted as soon as possible, and I can just concentrate on doing my utmost for Newcastle United. I want to stay here."