Allardyce ponders defensive buys

Ramage will have tests this week to determine the extent of his injury

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce looks set to dip into the transfer market after injuries to full-back Stephen Carr and versatile defender Peter Ramage.

Carr, 30, may be out for six weeks with a hamstring strain, while Ramage, 23, looks to have damaged knee ligaments in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough.

And Allardyce said: "I am well short now defensively, which is where my biggest problems have been all summer.

"With the transfer window shutting, we'll have to have a good look around."

Allardyce saw his side twice pegged back against Boro at the Riverside on Sunday when three points were briefly within his grasp.

And he admitted: "That, on top of not winning made me feel like we lost rather than drew.

606: DEBATE I cannot believe we will go into September not having a quality right back South African Toon

"It's typical, you always seem to get injuries where you are short.

"We are short in that area and we picked up not just one, but two injuries, and certainly one looks quite serious.

"We will have to deal with those situations and see whether that takes us into the market on a more ferocious basis this week, which it might have to."

However, Allardyce denied the club had received a £9million bid from Arsenal for striker Obafemi Martins.

The Toon boss also admitted he was awaiting developments on Albert Luque's proposed move to Ajax.