Right back where we started

With the news that Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage are going to be unavailable for a while, and with Nobby still hankering after a move south to be nearer the kids, the search for a right back must take priority for the remaining few days until the transfer window closes. The fact that rumoured target Juliano Belletti recently became the third player of the summer to favour the Chelsea bench over the delights of Newcastle has only increased the difficulties faced by Big Sam over the next few days.

Hopefully one player who will be joining us is Abdoulaye Faye of Bolton (who was again excluded from their squad on Saturday), although with the clock ticking, the fact that he has yet to make an appearance on Tyneside is a slight cause for concern.

The frustrating thing about the whole full back issue is that, at the end of last season, I could have told Allardyce that he needed a new right back, but he has not yet succeeded in bringing in some much needed cover. Given that he will also have to prepare a team for Wednesday night's league cup match with Barnsley this surely represents the first major test of his support staff. One possible option could see Geremi moved to right back, with an additional body being drafted in to midfield (although with Barton and Emre currently unfit and N'Zogbia filling in elsewhere this only moves the problem round the pitch without actually solving it).

In other news it is being reported that Albert Luque has finally found someone willing to pay his wages, with Ajax the lucky recipients of our most recent high profile flop.

Elsewhere, the FA have announced they are to launch an investigation into the alleged offensive chanting which was reported to be emanating from the away stands at Sunday's game on Smogside.