WHAT has become clear on Tyneside is that Steve Bruce is seeking attacking reinforcements, knowing he can not rely on Joelinton to keep Newcastle United away from trouble in the Premier League.

Three straight league defeats have seen the gap to the bottom three closed over the festive period and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Rochdale in the FA Cup saw the £40m man’s problems intensify.

Now Joelinton is keeping his place in the Newcastle side purely because of a lack of options, with Bruce admitting he is carrying a “heavy load” of pressure of having to deliver on Tyneside.

The head coach is convinced the South American will come good but he also knows he needs alternatives to help keep Newcastle in the top-flight.

Newcastle have a long list of striker targets in mind but it will be difficult for them to pull off a deal before the end of the month.

Suggestions that 36-year-old Brighton striker Glenn Murray is being targeted for a loan option have been denied at St James’ Park, but the link is a further sign of how much Bruce wants to add to his attacking options.

Rangers are determined to hold on to Alfredo Morrelos for the rest of the season to help their title push despite an awareness that Newcastle and Bologna are keen.

Hull City’s prolific young Jarrod Bowen is someone Bruce would love but the £20m price-tag is denting the chances of him landing his man.

Newcastle are known to have asked about the availability of AC Milan’s Krysztof Piatek and Roma’s Nikola Kalinic on loan. Neither move has been particularly well received in Italy, so Bruce is hoping chief scout Steve Nickson and managing director Lee Charnley will report better news this week.

The chances of Newcastle bringing a forward in would be boosted by striking a deal for Dwight Gayle to leave. The 29-year-old is interested in leaving because of his lack of football, but the reported £50,000-a-week contract he is on is causing major issues.

There are plenty of Championship clubs keen on Gayle but they are unwilling to take over his contract, nor are they willing to pay the preferred £15m fee that would seal a permanent transfer.

Gayle didn’t face Rochdale on Saturday because of muscle soreness and that means he will not be cup-tied should he eventually move on, unless he is given a chance in the replay next week.

Bruce is well aware of the importance of reducing the size of his squad, and he admitted over the weekend that Newcastle have been knocked back on a couple of fronts already.

West Ham United’s new manager David Moyes is known to be interested in signing full-back Javier Manquillo. The 25-year-old is out of contract in the summer and Moyes took him to Sunderland a few years ago.

West Ham are looking at full-backs to target to provide competition and cover, particularly after Ryan Fredericks picked up an injury at Gillingham in the FA Cup on Sunday.

There has also been fresh talk that Manchester United will target Sean Longstaff again. The midfielder was the subject of strong interest from Old Trafford in the summer when they were weighing up a £50m offer.

The 22-year-old has been monitored closely ever since and he is one of the young, homegrown talents they are interested in signing.

Bruce said: “As far as I am concerned I know Mick Phelan and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer very well and at this moment I don’t know anything about it.

“We don’t want to sell our best young players. That’s certainly the case with Longy. This time last year he was just breaking through. The kid has done very well and let’s see if he can keep playing.”