AS the list of names being linked with possible moves to Newcastle United grows, manager Kevin Keegan has warned that new signings will not be made just for the sake of it this month.

Keegan will be given the financial backing in the transfer market to turn the Magpies' fortunes around and he has admitted that 'big players' will be targeted during his reign.

But, given how there are only nine days left of the transfer window, the Newcastle boss admits he is keen to guard against drafting in players who are of no better than those inherited.

Of the players he has considered, none are likely to come cheap. With Wayne Bridge, Nicky Shorey, Sol Campbell, Richard Dunne and Daniel van Buyten on his list of possibilities.

But it would appear unlikely that Keegan will be able to prise Shaun Wright-Phillips away from Chelsea at this stage, even more so after the winger suffered injury in Saturday's win over Birmingham.

Wright-Phillips has picked up an ankle problem that is expected to keep him out of Fabio Capello's first game as England manager on February 6, meaning any move before the January 31 deadline is against the odds.

As well as injuries, Keegan is also aware of the fact many clubs would rather wait for the summer before moving players on.

Nevertheless he is confident he can bring players in soon, although there is an acceptance that major deals are likely to be brokered in the close-season.

"We are a club who can go and get big players if they are the right players. We can do that," said Keegan. "But we have to look at the situation in reality. We've got just over a week left of the transfer window and realistically a lot of players don't move at this time of year.

"If they do it usually hasn't been that successful. We will be trying to fetch two or three players in but we will not fetch them in just to make the numbers up. They've got to be players who can play with what we've got and improve what we've got."

Keegan has been quick to learn that his squad is 'extremely small', even more so with Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi, Obafemi Martins and Habib Beye away on African Cup of Nations duty.

Alan Smith, Nicky Butt and Emre were also missing from Saturday's tame draw with Bolton through suspension.

Both Smith and Butt are back for the FA Cup fourth round trip to Arsenal this Saturday, but the players are all urging Keegan to bring in new faces as quickly as possible.

"The players are saying 'we need players', and if the players are saying that, and I'm saying that, you can be assured we've got a small, but good quality, squad," he said. "There were only 16 players we could pick against Bolton. When the African guys come back, and the guys who are suspended come back, we'll have a strong squad if we can get one or two in. That's what you need in the Premier League."

Saturday's turgid goalless draw with Bolton offered a reality check to everyone who felt the installation of Keegan was going to bring instant rewards.

But the 56-year-old claims he has the personnel at his disposal capable of coping with the rise in expectations over the last week.

"I hope they can handle it, when you look at them," said Keegan. "Michael Owen, yes, Mark Viduka, the answer's yes. Look at some of the others that have played for their country. We've had players who have played for Manchester United and won trophies, Smith and Butt. Shay Given, people like Damien Duff who's got 66 caps.

"They came here to play for a big club. I don't think Michael Owen would have come here if he didn't think it was a big club. This club shouldn't faze them."

Newcastle's leading scorer this season remains Obafemi Martins and the Nigerian has been on international duty since Sam Allardyce was sacked and replaced by Keegan.

And the £10m striker, who fell out of favour under Allardyce when Owen returned, has spoken for the first time about the developments on Tyneside.

He said: "The sacking surprised me because I did not think that we were in a critical situation, but the decision was influenced by a string of bad results. When that happens it is the manager who pays for it with his job.

"Keegan is a symbol in Newcastle. I do not know him as a coach although people in Newcastle have always spoken very highly of him.for the job."

Former Newcastle defender Celestine Babayaro is to move to the United States to join David Beckham at LA Galaxy