NEWCASTLE will turn to Reading striker Shane Long if overseas target Kevin Gameiro continues to spurn their advances next week.

Alan Pardew has spent the early part of the close season attempting to lure Gameiro to Tyneside, and the Magpies have lodged a £10m offer for the France international with his current employers Lorient.

Gameiro has pledged to sort out his future after France’s double-header with Belarus, who they faced last night, and Poland, who they meet on Tuesday, but has delivered a series of strong hints suggesting he would rather join Valencia or Paris St Germain than Newcastle.

Pardew is aware of his reluctance to move to St James’ Park, but will invite the 24-year-old and his representatives to the North-East in the second half of next week in an attempt to make him change his mind.

However, if a deal still looks unlikely, he will turn his attention elsewhere, with Long understood to top a list of alternative attacking targets.

The Republic of Ireland international, who is due to start on the bench when his national side face Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier later today, was one of the stars of Reading’s season as they narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League.

He was involved in last month’s play-off final defeat to Swansea at Wembley, and having scouted him on a number of occasions last season, Newcastle are ready to make an early move for his services.

They will not be alone, as Celtic have already confirmed their interest in the 24-year-old, who cost just £20,000 when he moved to the Madejski Stadium as part of the deal that saw Kevin Doyle leave Cork City in 2005.

The lure of Premier League football should give Newcastle the edge over the Bhoys, but the strength of Long’s performances last season mean Pardew is unlikely to be the only manager from the English top-flight looking to talk terms with Reading chairman John Madejski.

Royals boss Brian McDermott has outlined his determination to hold on to Long, but Madejski appears willing to adopt a more pragmatic stance.

“I’m aware of interest in Shane Long,” he said. “How confident am I we can ward off that interest? Not very.

“It’s sad we didn’t get promoted because Shane would have liked to stay if we had reached the Premier League, but that has changed because we will be in the Championship.

“What value would I place on him? £20m. I don’t know if he will end up at Celtic, but what is certain is that he will not be at Reading next season.”

Long, who made his international debut in 2007, scored 21 Championship goals last season and was voted Reading’s Player of the Year.

He would add some much-needed pace and zip to the Newcastle attack and is capable of playing out wide, as well as performing as an orthodox centre-forward.

Whether he is a Magpies player at the start of pre-season remains to be seen, but one player Pardew is particularly looking forward to welcoming back to Tyneside is Dan Gosling.

Newcastle’s forgotten midfielder played just two minutes of Premier League football last term as he suffered a recurrence of the knee injury he initially sustained prior to his move from Everton.

He should, however, be available for Newcastle’s opening pre-season match at Darlington on July 15, and Pardew cannot wait to see him back in action.

“Dan’s been really unfortunate with injuries and, because of that, I simply haven’t been able to see him play,” said the Magpies boss. “Everybody tells me he’s a really good player and I’m looking forward to seeing that for myself because I know he’s been working exceptionally hard to get fit.

“I’m hoping that when we’re back for pre-season, we’ll get a good chance to see what he can offer for next season, because there’s no doubt that he has the potential to be a very important member of the squad.

“It’ll certainly be great to have him available because the reports from his Everton days are very impressive.”