Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew is scouring the transfer market for a defender after seeing his side crash to a 5-2 defeat at Fulham last weekend.
The Magpies, who are now 50/1 with bookmaker to finish in the top four, saw their hopes take a major dive at Craven Cottage, with the absence of Steven Taylor (Achilles) a telling factor.
Pardew admitted: “We want to bring a defender in, that’s what I’ve said and we’ll try and do that if we can, because we have no cover.
“If we had an injury at centre-half, we’re going to look vulnerable.”
Fabricio Coloccini has been partnered by Mike Williamson since the loss of Taylor for the rest of the season, with James Perch the only like-for-like back-up.
Pardew will hope for a better showing in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round trip to Brighton, with the Magpies 16/1 to go all the way and win the competition for the first time since 1955.