JOHN CARVER will consider looking at a free transfer should Newcastle United’s injury problems increase in the next few weeks.

Carver only has three defenders to choose from ahead of Wednesday night’s home game against Manchester United, with left-back Massadio Haidara ruled out after being stretchered off during Saturday’s victory over Aston Villa.

Ryan Taylor will step into Haidara’s position but Carver has admitted that resources are thin on the ground, with injuries to Steven Taylor, Paul Dummett and the departure of Davide Santon and Remi Streete on loan leaving Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini and Daryl Janmaat as the Magpies’ only fit defenders.

Newcastle have dipped into the out-of-contract market before, with Shefki Kuqi coming in on a short-term deal in 2011, and Carver is waiting to see how his squad recovers.

"The squad itself is big enough, we've just been so unfortunate with these injuries,” said the Newcastle head coach, who will also miss Remy Cabella and Rolando Aarons for Wednesday’s match, while Siem De Jong’s collapsed lung rules him out. “You have three four maximum of these long term injuries normally per season, but we've had more than that with nine.

"Our squad at the start of the season is in a healthy position, the only thing you can do is go into the out of contract market and it might be something we look at but not yet.

"Rolando will join us before the end of next week which is great, along with Robbie Elliot, Everton might be too soon for Rolando but the fact that he's back training next week is great news. Remy Cabella is back next week, so that's three big boosts for us.

“We're short of defenders and we've not got many possibilities so Ryan comes into contention and he filled that role very well the other day so he's certainly in contention.

"We've had four knee injuries and a player with a collapsed lung - it's very unusual and something we can't affect. You can make excuses but these are facts, I've just got to get on with it.

"Next week we've got three players coming back which is important. I don't want to think about getting another injury too much - I'll deal with it if it happens. I'll stay positive but we've got a few players we need to manage.

“With another injury I'll have to start to try pulling rabbits out of a hat. If you think too much about injuries, they start to happen. We've got to manage Ryan and Gabby because they've been out for a while, we've got to be careful with them.”

Papiss Cisse revealed last week that the knee injury that kept him out at the end of the season and over the summer still needs to be managed by the club doctor, but Carver played down the concerns over his top-scorer’s wellbeing.

Carver said: "Everyone's making a big thing of Papiss' knee but his physical stats for Saturday along with Manu [Riviere]were the best they've been for a long long time, not just did he give us his goal, his workrate showed he doesn't have any issues with his knee.

“He puts people under pressure, works for the team and scores goals which is a reward for his hard work. The issue isn't a problem if he can run around like he did on Saturday, especially when you see his goal ratio, 84 minutes per goal and long may that continue. “