A downbeat Graeme Souness last night pledged to re-assess his transfer priorities, despite refusing to blame a goalless draw with West Brom on the absence of his three leading strikers.

Craig Bellamy will have a scan on his injured knee later today and, with Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert already ruled out for the best part of a month, Newcastle can ill afford to lose the Wales international for a similarly lengthy spell.

Their forward ranks could be even more depleted when they take on non-leaguers Yeading on Sunday, as Shola Ameobi received post-match treatment at The Hawthorns last night.

The United striker should be fit to line up at Loftus Road but, after being given a particularly rough ride by both Andy Johnson and Darren Purse, Ameobi left the West Midlands with his leg packed in ice.

Souness felt his side should still have claimed all three points despite their lack of firepower, but has admitted that he is considering bringing a new striker to St James' Park this month.

"We're looking at several options and, in an ideal world, we would like to sign several players to cover various positions," said the Scot, who was forced to watch on from the stands after November's touchline dismissal against Fulham.

"We have targets but we'll see what happens and much will depend on Craig's injury.

"We will see what comes along. Shola is OK. He's got a lot of ice on his leg but I'm confident he'll be fine.

"People will talk about the fact that we're missing three experienced strikers but I don't want to harp on about that.

"We're down to the bare bones up front but I picked a team capable of winning that game."

Newcastle dominated the first half but, despite carving out five clear-cut chances in the opening half-hour, Russell Hoult was rarely extended in the West Brom goal.

"We needed to score in that first half-hour," admitted Souness. "I thought we were on the front foot for most of the game, but we just didn't have that killer touch when it counted.

"In the final third we just weren't imaginative enough and the obvious reason for that is the number of games the players have been forced to play over the holiday period.

"We just lacked that extra yard of pace when it mattered and couldn't quite finish things off."

Newcastle's 4-5-1 formation meant they enjoyed a numerical advantage in midfield, and the Magpies would have had an extra man at the final whistle had referee Neale Barry not twice shown leniency to the combative Johnson.

The Wales international, who was booked for encroachment after just seven minutes, was lucky to avoid further censure after clattering into Ameobi midway through the first half.

He was even luckier to stay on the pitch quarter of an hour from time when Barry reached for his pocket following a collision between Johnson and Olivier Bernard, only to leave his cards untouched after complaints from the West Brom players.

"The referee said to the players that Johnson's challenge on Bernard warranted a yellow card," said Souness.

"Then, somewhere along the line, and after some bullying from certain players, he changed his mind.

"If he's admitted as much then fair play to him but it doesn't help us.

"I'd have to see the challenge again to see whether it was the right decision or not.

"I only got a flash of it from the stands. But it's a man's game and these things happen.