JOHN CARVER has geared up for Sunday’s visit of Stoke City by insisting that Newcastle United have a squad capable of finishing the Premier League season strongly.

Carver, the interim head coach until the end of the campaign, did not add to his squad before the transfer window closed on Monday night.

But he did lose Davide Santon to Inter Milan and five young players – Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic, Remi Streete, Shane Ferguson and Kevin Mbabu – to Rangers after sanctioning the loans.

There had been interest from Paris St Germain and Arsenal in Moussa Sissoko, but Newcastle held off the advances by quoting high valuations.

Carver said: “I did go on record and say that Moussa Sissoko wasn’t going anywhere so that was pleasing.

“But to have a group of players that we have here now I am delighted. We are going to have problems this weekend because I will have to leave some people out of the 18 which is the first time we’ve had to do that for a long time.

“So we are in a healthy position. We are looking forward to it.”

Italian defender Santon’s move back to Inter could become a permanent arrangement in the summer and his departure caused a stir because his girlfriend posted a tweet suggesting he had been forced out. She later deleted the comment.

Carver said: “He’s not featured all season - he’d had a problem with his knee.

“The emergence of Paul Dummett and Massadio Haidara are two guys at left-back in particular who have done really well.

“Davide was finding it a problem to get in the team. I’ve always said that if you get in the team and do well it doesn’t matter if you are young or a senior.

“Davide got a little bit frustrated with himself because he wasn’t in the team. But the best option was to send him out on loan and that’s what we’ve done.”

The match with Stoke on Sunday has arrived too soon for Siem De Jong. The Dutchman could be involved against Crystal Palace next Wednesday if he suffers no set-backs. Winger Rolando Aarons remains ten days away.