Given wants signings

Having signed a contract until the end of the season on Friday, Kinnear is hoping to receive the funds required to purchase two or three players when the transfer window opens at the start of next month.

The Magpies manager has already identified a number of targets, and Given is hoping that Mike Ashley supports his plans now he has effectively admitted defeat in his attempts to sell the club.

“Hopefully, Joe can bring in a couple of new players in January now,” said the Newcastle goalkeeper, who kept his second clean sheet in seven days in Saturday’s goalless draw at Middlesbrough. “We need to bring a few in – it’s important that we strengthen I think.

“We haven’t got the biggest squad and it is in the second half of the season when things get a bit more stretched with injuries and suspensions. If we don’t get new players in, we’ll be hit quite hard and it might damage us.”

Kinnear insists he will outrank Dennis Wise when it comes to transfer policy, but while Newcastle’s despised executive director has been widely criticised for interfering with former manager Kevin Keegan’s transfer dealings, one of his less-heralded summer signings has turned out to be a notable success.

Sebastien Bassong followed up last month’s impressive showing at Chelsea with another magnificent display at the Riverside, and has emerged as one of the brightest defensive prospects in the Premier League.

“He’s come on hugely,” said Given. “He’s doing really, really well and it’s a big credit to him. He’s very strong in the air, very quick in the tackle and he’s got good pace as well.

He looks like a really good defender and he’s a big asset.

“Maybe a few people outside the club hadn’t heard of him and raised their eyebrows when he came in, but he’s showing what a good player he is.

“He’s played a few times at left-back but I think he was a bit out of position there. He’s a centre-half and that has shown in the way he’s played in the last two games.”