GRAEME Souness believes it is 'unfair' to suggest Newcastle fans were led down the garden path regarding the club's attempts to sign Wayne Rooney last summer, but added he was far more positive about his end of season transfer targets.

Supporters were excited, confused and embarrassed by the Magpies audacious attempt to sign the Everton and England starlet last year.

Excited at the thought of having the world's most promising player pull on a black and white shirt. Confused at splashing out £20m on a striker when four frontmen of proven class were already at the club, and a defender was high priority. And, embarrassed by the chairman Freddie Shepherd's bombastic rhetoric: "I think the fans will be pleasantly surprised at what results from the (Jonathan) Woodgate deal", only to see Manchester United take Rooney off to Old Trafford.

"My understanding was the club had Rooney and it was only a late intervention by Manchester United stopped it going through," said Souness ahead of Newcastle's Premiership clash with local rivals Middlesbrough tonight.

The United boss - unlike last season - would not reveal his transfer targets this summer but says he has already identified the players he wants at the club and was optimistic about the future.

"I think the fans should be extremely optimistic because the kind of players we are talking of bringing here along with the existing good players, with a fair wind, we can have a very exciting season here next year," said a bullish Souness, who also had a message for anyone thinking of not renewing their season ticket.

"I don't think that will be an issue. I think the passion involved supporting this football club will ensure that they will always sell their season tickets," he said.

"I think if I was a season ticket holder knowing what I know and the kind of players we are targeting then I would be renewing sooner rather than later.

"We obviously have more than one or two targets and we'll just try and bag one as we go along. I can't give any guarantees but I know who we are looking at will both excite and improve what we have."

Newcastle's disastrous Premiership campaign - which sees them floundering in 14th place - has led the club to enter the Intertoto Cup competition as a stepping stone to Europe.

Souness insists he can still attract high calibre players to the club despite no guarantee of delivering European football on Tyneside next season. He also went so far as to admit the players he has identified have expressed a desire to play for Newcastle, but added the signing process is more complicated than a footballer saying 'yes'.

"There is more than one part to a (transfer) deal," he said. "It is OK a player saying yes he really fancies it. Then you have to get the clubs to agree and satisfy the financial demands because there are different parts to a transfer deal.

"We have been given indications by one or two agents, or someone close to the player, that we have players who are very interested in coming here.

"If I was a player and given a chance to play for Newcastle United, there might be just one of two clubs at this time that would be a match for this club. I don't think attracting players to Newcastle United has been a problem in their recent history and I don't see it as one in the future."

Meanwhile, the United boss says Kieron Dyer has a 50:50 chance of featuring in tonight's game.

Should Dyer play it will conclude a remarkable turnaround for the England international.

He infamously refused to play on the right side of midfield for former boss Sir Bobby Robson when the Magpies faced the Teessiders on the opening day of the season and many predicted the fleet-footed midfielder would leave the club in the wake of that decision.

But, although wholesale changes are expected at St James' Park next season Souness insists Dyer is not one of the players he wants to leave.

The situation of course might be out of Souness' hands as Dyer has only one year left on his current contract and, if he fails to sign another before January, then he is free to talk to other clubs.

Souness said: "I've always been an admirer of Kieron. People tell me he is playing the best football of his career. I see him as someone we need to get in the last third of the pitch. Long term, without using the word striker, I see him playing further up the field."

* Dependable defender Robbie Elliott, 31, has been offered a one-year contract extension with the Magpies.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.