GIVEN that he had promised to set his sights high when the transfer window reopens in January, it was perhaps inevitable that Glenn Roeder would begin his search for striking reinforcements with beanpole frontman Peter Crouch.

While the Magpies manager refused to confirm his interest in the England international yesterday, his willingness to extol the player's virtues was a strong indication that a formal approach to Anfield could well be in the offing.

At the moment, Rafael Benitez would be loath to lose his £7m man, despite the in-form Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy repeatedly keeping Crouch out of Liverpool's starting XI.

But should the Dubai International Capital Group's proposed £450m takeover of the Anfield club prove successful this month, Crouch could yet find himself one of the victims of a radical rebuilding project.

"The latest speculation has not come from me and, as far as I'm concerned, it has not come from within the club," said Roeder.

"But if I was asked the question, and it's totally different, whether Peter Crouch is a good player, I would say he is one of the most improved players of the last few years.

"He fully deserves the recognition of being an England international and Liverpool striker who is playing Champions League football.

"I'm very much in the camp of liking Peter Crouch very much. But, as far as us being able to get even close to being able to bring him here, I don't know where that has come from. I'm sure Rafael Benitez is very happy with him."

Roeder has also been linked with a possible January swoop for Mark Viduka but, while the Magpies attempted to sign the Middlesbrough striker on transfer deadline day in August, they will not be making a renewed approach next month.

Roeder has also ruled himself out of the race for Boro's on-loan Real Madrid defender Jonathan Woodgate, as well as distancing himself from speculation linking Newcastle with former Magpie Sylvain Distin and Fulham centre-half Zat Knight.

"I am not interested in bringing Jonathan Woodgate, Sylvain Distin or Zat Knight to Newcastle United," confirmed the United boss.