Sam to look at trialists

6:01am Tuesday 11th December 2007

SAM ALLARDYCE is gearing up for the departure of four members of his Newcastle United squad by declaring he has already started to put contingency plans in place to cope with the loss.

Abdoulaye Faye, Obafemi Martins, Habib Beye and Geremi are all expected to report for African Cup of Nations duty in early January and, depending on how far their respective countries progress, they may not return to Tyneside until mid-February.

Allardyce sympathises with those who have argued he bought those players despite being well aware of the prospect of losing them next month.

But the 53-year-old claims it is time for the game's governing body, FIFA, to act by ensuring the biennial event is given a different time slot from 2010.

But it's too late to alter the date for the Ghana showpiece this time and Allardyce is drawing up plans to cope with the absence of the quartet.

He has been informed by chairman Chris Mort that he has to look at ways of bringing in younger players during the transfer window.

A behind-closed-doors friendly with Hartlepool United has been arranged for Thursday when Allardyce will take the opportunity to throw in more than one trialist.

But the Newcastle boss is also confident that there are a number of players returning to full fitness.

Michael Owen hopes to make his comeback against Derby on December 23.

Owen will not figure in Thursday's friendly, although injured foursome Faye, Damien Duff, Claudio Cacapa and Shola Ameobi are all likely to be involved.

"Losing players in January is going to be a big problem for me and for everyone else in the Premier League. We've got four going and we've got to try to do something about it in January, to bring somebody in to help out the situation," said Allardyce.

"That's why Cacapa, Duff and Carr are going to be very important. People said in the early days that I was just moaning about it again and said 'well, don't buy the African lads'. "But the fact is that they were the cheapest with quality.

"Now the Premier League have brought in a huge amount of African players, so the conflict lies with FIFA, who will always promote international tournaments.

"That's where their bread and butter really lies. It causes a big problem for the Premier League now and I can't see a resolution to it, because they're not going to play it in the middle of the summer like the other tournaments."

But if Allardyce has his heart set on drafting in expensive, experienced talent as replacements then he has been urged to think again.

"If I made any signings in January, they'd be young guys who I could see staying for a very long time, not immediate first-team regulars," said Mort. "Sam's not pitched to me that we need to sign players because of that tournament. If I was going to sign anyone it would be with a much longer-term view than January and February."

Allardyce feels strongly about the timing of the African Cup of Nations and his stance has been backed up by numerous Premier League based players from that continent.

He believes that, if nothing can be done in future years to alter the date, the Premier League and the Football Association should bring in their own January break.

"It would be all right if we were relieved by the Premier League by having a two-week break in January, because we've got Africans in the tournament every two years," he said.

"We've got the transfer window and we've got to play eight games in that period. You can't tell me that's good for a player.

"Play the third round of the FA Cup and then give everyone a break, then those players would only miss two games and we could get on with transfer stuff, players could recharge their batteries and you'd get a much more productive Premier League. I understand they've got problems with the fixture list, but we're only one of the few countries who do it."

Newcastle's squad has been reduced by one, after the club reached an agreement with Celestine Babayaro to pay up the remaining months of his contract.

The injury-plagued defender has not played for the Magpies since suffering yet another injury in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on March 31.

The 29-year-old, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season anyway, has suffered from a succession of hamstring and back problems, as well as a lack of form, since arriving for £1m from Chelsea during Graeme Souness' days in charge.