NEWCASTLE striker Loic Remy has been ruled out of Saturday's Premier League game at Stoke City because of an ongoing calf problem.

The France international had a second scan on his injured calf on Tuesday and, at the time, it was hoped he would be passed fit for the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

However, the problem is not healing as quickly as expected, and the striker will not be involved as Newcastle look to end a run of three games without a goal when they travel to the Potteries.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul still has a chance of making Saturday's starting line-up, and will travel to Stoke as part of the squad.

"Loic won't make this game, but he's training and we'd like to think he'll make the next game," said Alan Pardew. "To lose the spearhead of your team is difficult.

"We're just trying to give the best performance that we can and the biggest thing is to try and get a result. Tim's been training and he's got a chance of playing."

With five games of the current campaign remaining, thoughts are beginning to turn to the rebuilding job that Newcastle will have to tackle in the sumer.

With Remy unlikely to remain on Tyneside, Shola Ameobi due to become a free agent and a replacement required for Yohan Cabaye, the Magpies will need to bring in some fresh attacking talent to replenish their resources.

Pardew will be pushing the need for additions when he meets owner Mike Ashley for an end-of-season debrief, and feels this week's appointment of Lee Charnley as managing director will help him make his case.

"I'm pleased that Lee's been appointed in that role," he said. "He's somebody who knows the club inside out.

"He's worked on transfers and has good experience on those, and I hope we can work together in the summer to secure the players we need and we're focusing on that at the moment.

"There's absolutely no conflict in terms of where we're going. The owner's set out the criteria and we've got to bring in players to take us forward.

"We're in a position to bring in players in the summer and hopefully push on from where we finish this season, and that's lkely to be eighth, ninth or tenth."