Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew 'hopes' he can keep his squad together.
Pardew himself was a controversial appointment by the Mike Ashley regime following Chris Hughton's sacking, but he insists he is happy with how things are going.
"In terms of where I am with the club, I've really enjoyed working here. I love the people, they've been great to me. Hopefully I can repay them with the squad I've got," he said.
"I would have loved to have the striker and filled the number nine jersey.
"We'd have had the complete picture then and it would have almost been too easy for Newcastle. That's how I've tried to look at it.
"I've not been helped by some of the key players that we've lost this summer," he admits.
"Some because of past histrionics with the board, some just had the desire to leave - like Jose Enrique, who was just determined to leave, there was nothing we could do. Andy Carroll was the same, to an extent.
"I've had difficult periods in that but I'm hoping it will smooth out now and that the players that really come to the fore to us, we manage to keep. We'll see."
