BIRMINGHAM are ready to test Newcastle's resolve by tabling an improved bid for striker Shola Ameobi.

Magpies officials turned down a £1.5m offer for the 29-year-old at the start of the week, with boss Alan Pardew keen to retain one of the club's most experienced forwards.

However, his counterpart at St Andrew's, Alex McLeish, is equally determined to sign a new striker this month, and sources in the Midlands claim an improved offer is likely before the transfer window closes next Monday.

McLeish is poised to return with an increased bid of around £2.5m, but it remains to be seen whether that is sufficient to force a weakening of Newcastle's position.

With Andy Carroll facing another fortnight on the sidelines, Pardew will be extremely reluctant to lose any of his strikers so close to the end of the window.

McLeish turned his attention to Ameobi after a proposed deal for Kenny Miller fell through when the Scotland international opted to join Turkish side Bursaspor instead.

He outlined his interest in the Nigeria-born striker to the Magpies hierarchy earlier this week, but his initial bid of £1.5m was immediately turned down.

Ameobi has suffered another injury-hit campaign, but his recent performances have impressed Pardew, who has spoken glowingly of the Academy product's prowess in front of goal.

Ameobi, who has 18 months of his current contract to run, produced a match-winning display at Wigan on New Year's Day, and also caught the eye in this month's 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

He has led the line effectively in the absence of Carroll, and while the England international is still being lined up for a possible return in next month's away game at Fulham, Pardew will be mindful of the risk of further problems in the second half of the season robbing him of his leading goalscorer.

As a result, he is extremely reluctant to lose anyone this month, and is hoping to add to his squad rather than reduce it.

Stephen Ireland remains an ongoing loan target, even though the impasse over the Aston Villa midfielders £72,000-a-week pay packet remains unbroken, with Pardew also hoping to recruit a couple of promising players from the Football League.

Like a number of other Premier League managers, the Magpies boss has been monitoring in-form QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt, but Neil Warnock yesterday insisted the Moroccan will not be leaving Loftus Road.

Taarabt scored and made another goal for Newcastle loanee Wayne Routledge as QPR secured a 2-1 win over Coventry at the weekend, and has been linked with a possible £3m move to Tyneside.

"You can forget a move for Tarbs (Taarabt) - that's stone dead certain," said Warnock. "I'm not sure any club would want him. We give him licence to do things here he would never get a chance to do anywhere else."

Pardew has also been eyeing Leeds winger Max Gradel and Southampton midfielder Jason Puncheon.

* Leon Best has been named in the provisional Republic of Ireland squad for a Nations Cup game against Wales in Dublins Aviva Stadium on February 8.

Tamas Kadar is included in the Hungary squad for a game against Azerbaijan 24 hours later.