DAN GOSLING has been told he can still have a future at Newcastle United, despite failing to become a regular in Alan Pardew's first team plans.

Gosling, whose first season at St James' Park was spent largely trying to recover from a cruciate knee ligament injury, has still only made one Premier League start for the Magpies since moving in July 2010.

The 22-year-old's failure to force his way more regularly in to Pardew's starting line-ups has led to growing suggestions he could be sold in the summer.

But Gosling and his representatives are not angling to leave Tyneside and have not been informed that Newcastle are ready to sell him either.

The player's agent, David Hodgson, said: "I don't know what Newcastle United's thoughts are, they will make their decision. At this stage I have received no indications they want to cash in on Dan."

He added: "If Newcastle decide they do want to get rid of him I would say they are making a huge, huge mistake. He's very professional.

"I'm not going to say he's happy because he's not playing at the moment but he wants to achieve things at Newcastle United and I still think he can."

After making just one appearance for Newcastle last season, he has appeared in 13 matches this season but has still struggled to make inroads in the starting line-up.

Even now Newcastle fans are not particularly clear of the former Everton midfielder's preferred position, something which Gosling's camp feels could be hindering his progress.

Hodgson, the former Darlington manager, said: "Dan has to win over Alan Pardew but he's trying too hard to win over Alan Pardew at the moment. He is trying too hard but I don't think he has to try too hard.

"My advice to him is that he's trying to be that 'quarter-back' type player and that's not his job. His strength is his goals and his goal-scoring ability.

"Look at the stats of the boy going in the box. He gets in the box more than any other player at Newcastle United and he could be that player who scores seven to ten goals a season for them. I would say he's more of a David Platt-type player."

Despite speculation surrounding his future, Gosling is focused on finishing the end of the season on a high before returning for pre-season training intent on performing well next season.

Hodgson, who has worked with Gosling since he became a regular in the England Under-21 squad, said: "Dan has been through a lot of turmoil with injuries and having to relocate and everything. What he really needs right now is a bit of a confidence boost. Everyone needs that when they have gone through a tough spell.

"When he comes back pre-season he will have his first full pre-season for a while and then we will see what Dan Gosling can do for Newcastle United."

Pardew will be looking to tinker with his squad again in the summer, but he is not expecting to make wholesale alterations to a pool of players on course to achieve a top six finish.

The Newcastle boss, ahead of Sunday's visit of seventh-placed Liverpool, said: "You have to try to move forward. We're trying to compete with teams that have got twice our budget, twice our wage bill, huge investment in their team.

"We've got to try to bridge that gap sometimes looking a little left-field in terms of the transfer market. Myself, Graham (Carr), Lee Charnley and my team have managed to pull a few gems but you've got to back it up. Next season we've got to make sure we get it right otherwise we'll never bridge it."Pardew is already closing in on his primary transfer targets, with a new centre-back essential to compete with Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor next season.

Coloccini is set to miss the next few matches with a groin problem picked up at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, so James Perch and Davide Santon are on stand-by to slot in.

Coloccini said: "I had a hitch and I will be off the team for two or three weeks. I will try to recover as best as possible to avoid getting hurt again. Newcastle's priority is the health of players, but we always want to play early."