Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear has dismissed fears of relegation.

He said: "If we can keep our best team together, then we are a far better, stronger side than we are when we lose key players.

"We have got enough ammunition about us, providing - and there is a proviso - that we stay with the squad we have got.

"If we pick up injuries, then we struggle. That's our Achilles heel.

"If two or three key players hit the wall, then we struggle to replace them, and that is something that should be addressed in the long term as we come to the next window.

"That's an area that needs to be addressed. It's the under-belly of the side.

"We have got people who are prepared to come in and give plenty of effort, but they haven't got the same sort of ability as the ones we are losing going out."