Kinnear urges Newcastle to spend in January

Ashley has revealed that he is no longer looking to sell the club after trying to sell it for three months.

Kinnear said: “January will be hectic on and off the field. We need to address that situation immediately — and that’s the message I am getting across to Mike Ashley and the board of directors.

“If we are looking for a team for the future and want to go forward and make a statement against teams like Liverpool, we must strengthen. Against Liverpool you could see how big the gap is.”

He added: “The players I am looking at bringing in are players who can come straight into the team.

“I will have to make changes. I was looking at certain areas, assuming everybody was fit and well. But due to the length of time people are out injured, it could change.”