Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia and Toulouse full-back Albin Ebondo are reported to be on Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear's shopping list. Kinnear met the club's hierarchy on Tuesday night to discuss the way forward after revealing he would be without 11 senior players for the FA Cup third-round replay against Hull as a fresh injury crisis gripped St James' Park.

The Toon are discussing the possibility of taking Mbia and Ebondo on loan until the end of the season with a view to making the moves permanent during the summer.