PETER Crouch may well become a Newcastle United player next month if Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is successful in his bid for Valencia striker David Villa.

Benitez insisted only last week that he had no intentions of selling Crouch. But should Villa arrive at Anfield before the end of the January transfer window the 6ft 7in forward would be deemed surplus to requirements.

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder made it known he is a fan of the England international frontman, and although his priorities lie in strengthening his defence next month, the club are also in the market for a target man to link up with United's diminutive attack.

"I'm an admirer of the way Peter Crouch plays and the fact he scores goals," was as much as Roeder would acknowledge.

Crouch has spent a large part of this season on the bench, although he was substituted in a rare start in Liverpool's 1-0 defeat at Blackburn Rovers on Boxing Day.

The 25-year-old Macclesfield- born striker appeared to be disgruntled and threw his coat when taking his place in the dugout.

Benitez's decision to favour former Newcastle target Dirk Kuyt to the ex-Southampton man as his main striker leaves a question mark over the latter's future.

Crouch would certainly be an asset to a United side short on height and he would relish linking up with England colleague Michael Owen when he finally returns to full fitness.

But any move to St James' Park hinges on whether the Merseyside club can raise the funds for one of Spain's top international stars.

Benitez last year had an £8m bid turned down for 25-year-old Villa, who has netted nine goals in 18 outings for Spain.

Liverpool will have to break their transfer record - which stands at £14m for Djibril Cisse in July 2004 - to land a player who, with Fernando Torres, is keeping Real Madrid's Raul out of the international side.

Dubai International Capital's takeover at Liverpool has yet to go through, and until it does there will be little cash available to Benitez, who is also looking to bring Middlesbrough's Mark Viduka to the club.

The Australian is free to talk to other teams in January as he is out of contract in the summer.

The Reds boss, however, does have the option of recovering the £7m he paid Southampton for Crouch, from Newcastle, as a down payment.

Meanwhile, in-form United striker Obafemi Martins has confessed the criticism levelled at him at the beginning of his career on Tyneside was fully justified.

The 22-year-old forward struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premiership when he arrived from Inter Milan in August, and there were fears he was going to join Albert Luque in the £10m flop club.

Many believed the Newcastle manager was taking an almighty gamble by splashing such a large sum on an untried striker when Premier League forwards were available for a similar asking price.

But the Nigeria international has come into his own during the last four weeks and netted six goals in his last six appearances.

"I begrudge no-one for the many things said about me in previous months," said Martins. "But people should understand that any player coming to a new territory will need some time to settle down.

"It is a whole new environment, new style, new culture and new orientation.

"I thank God that I am doing better than when I arrived. It means that the coming year will be good.

"Newcastle is a club with ambition and we have every reason to do well next year.

"We went out of the Carling Cup in the quarter-finals, but we are gradually inching up the table in the Premiership and will continue to move up. The next few matches will be the key.

"We are also in the round of 32 in the UEFA Cup and there's still the FA Cup."

The former San Siro striker also hailed the man who brought him to St James' Park from Italy.

"I commend the coach," he said. "He is a good leader and he gives us confidence. For him, I will always go out there and do my best."

The Newcastle manager had a roll call to see how many of his walking wounded he could call upon for the next two fixtures with Everton and Manchester United.

Midfielders Damien Duff and Nolberto Solano are both rated as 50-50 for United's trip to Merseyside tomorrow.

Duff was expected to return for the Boxing Day fixture at Bolton but he suffered a reaction in his knee. It is touch and go whether he will make the New Year's Day meeting with Manchester United.

Solano is still recovering from a groin strain but he may make the Red Devils' visit to St James' Park, whereas Celestine Babayaro is still two to three weeks away from a return.

Craig Moore also suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring problem. Roeder added: "To be perfectly honest I cannot put a comeback date on Moore, (Titus) Bramble, (Olivier) Bernard or (Stephen) Carr."

David Edgar is set to keep his place at right back for the game against David Moyes' side. Paul Huntingdon will remain at left back with Peter Ramage and Steven Taylor once again anchoring the heart of United's defence.