Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes the poor recent form of the team suggests to owner Mike Ashley that perhaps the club needs some reinforcements this summer.
The Magpies have been beaten in four of their past five fixtures and although it is not an ideal situation, Pardew is trying to see the positives by stating that Ashley may now look to open his check book at the end of the season.
"I think that's been a positive, that he sees we need a bit of quality in the group, that the players are doing their best, but we do need more quality if we are going to impact the top of the league," said Pardew.
"We have played three teams - I know you could argue Southampton weren't above us at the time, but three teams in that top half.
"We have another one on Saturday (Stoke City) and I think it's fair at the moment that we have been a little bit distant from them and we need to close that gap."
