Last Updated: Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:42
Newcastle must sign new players in January to pull away from the relegation zone, according to keeper Shay Given.
The Magpies are only out of the bottom three on goal difference, ahead of bitter rivals Sunderland, with over a third of the campaign now gone.
And Republic of Ireland star Given feels it is "important" boss Joe Kinnear is fully backed in the mid-season transfer market.
He told the Echo: "Hopefully, Joe can bring in a couple of new players in January now. We need to bring a few in - it's important that we strengthen I think.
"We haven't got the biggest squad and it is in the second half of the season when things get a bit more stretched with injuries and suspensions. If we don't get new players in, we'll be hit quite hard and it might damage us."