GLENN Roeder is ready to step up his pursuit of American centre-half Oguchi Onyewu as he attempts to complete the capture of an "international defender" by the weekend.

Despite spending the first half of the week at Warwick University as part of his Pro Licence studies, Roeder has been attempting to secure the two loan signings he is permitted to make during the current transfer window.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recently turned down an approach regarding Johan Djourou, claiming the Switzerland international was needed to provide cover to the Gunners' first-choice back four.

That has forced Roeder to look elsewhere and, while both Chelsea and Fulham have also expressed an interest in Onyewu, the Magpies are ready to make a concerted effort to secure his signature.

The American's current employers, Standard Liege, are resigned to losing his services before the transfer window swings shut and, while the Belgians had initially hoped to tie up a permanent deal, they could yet be persuaded to agree to a loan deal, with a view to a long-term transfer in May.

Onyewu, who briefly interested Middlesbrough last summer, was close to joining Fulham this month, after Liege accepted a bid from the London side of around £1.25m.

That move collapsed when the 24-year-old refused to move to Craven Cottage, however, and while Premiership champions Chelsea have subsequently confirmed their interest, Onyewu is reluctant to move to a club who cannot guarantee him first-team football.

"The best club for him is one that will develop his profile as a player," said his agent, Will Sherling. "He doesn't need to get tangled up in which club is bigger than the next."

Roeder refused to reveal the identity of his leading transfer target yesterday, but the Magpies manager confirmed he had made some headway in his latest round of negotiations.

While Roeder's outfield options remain limited, he is at least assured of an experienced goalkeeper between the sticks when Aston Villa visit Tyneside next Wednesday.

Shay Given's latest injury setback will sideline him for the best part of a month, but Steve Harper is determined to ensure the Republic of Ireland international is not missed.

After four successive seasons of inactivity, the Newcastle number two had considered leaving the Magpies last season in search of regular first-team football.

Instead, he opted to remain and fight for his place, a decision that enabled him to step into the breach when Given ruptured his bowel in the first half of the season.

His team-mate's current groin problem means he is assured of another run in the team, further underlining the wisdom of his decision to sign a new deal at St James'.

"I stayed because I wanted to play regular first-team football at this club," said Harper, who visited his former school at Easington yesterday to promote the town's new healthy living resource centre. "I knew that, if I was given the opportunity, I would try to grasp it.

"Getting that run of a dozen games or so was good. I had waited a long time for a run in the first team. It takes you a couple of games to get back up to speed, but the last ten games or so went well from a personal point of view.

"I didn't see my next chance coming so quickly, but this West Ham curse that Shay seems to have has struck again (both of Given's injuries this season have come against the Hammers) and I was thrust into the game on Saturday.

"It looks as though he's going to miss at least four or five games and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

Ironically, Harper's last run in the first team was hampered by injury problems of his own and, when Given eventually returned to full fitness, the former Seaham Red Star shot-stopper immediately underwent a hernia operation.

* Damien Duff has confirmed that he hopes to be involved in Wednesday's home game with Aston Villa.

The Republic of Ireland international has played just 20 minutes of football in the last two months after undergoing a knee operation in November.

But after returning to full training this week, Duff has targeted next week's visit of Villa for a first-team return.

"I'm back in training now so, touch wood, it will stay that way and I'll stay injury-free for the rest of the season," he said.