After our inability to put away our chances yesterday, Chris Hughton (after speaking with the Chronicle), has admitted that Jermaine Beckford is one of a few players that Newcastle United are interested in signing. Beckford has always been fancied by Newcastle – Kinnear wanted him, Shearer wanted him, now it looks like it’s Hughton’s turn. The judgment on whether he’ll take us to the next level are out though – is he Premier League material?

Also mentioned is Michael Chopra. Chris Hughton looks like he fancies the combination of one biggun’ and one luttlun’ up front for Newcastle and we have Ameobi and Carroll as the biggun, and Lovenkrands and Ranger as the littlun’. Bringing in Chopra could mean that Lovenkrands plays out wide. However, unlike Beckford, the Chopra stories have so far been unsubstantiated.

A centre-half and a striker have been the playing areas Hughton has gone on record as saying he’d like to strengthen. But with Coloccini and Taylor doing a pretty good job, who would make way? It was thought that Sheffield United would like to cash in on defender Mathew Kilgallon before his contract ends at the end of the season. Their manager Kevin Blackwell confirmed that their star defender could be set to stay with the Blades until his contract ends. If the Toon want Kilgallon in January, they’re going to have to put up some cash for him, and he may not come cheap.

The January transfer window opens on Friday lads and lasses, and there’s only a matter of time to see whether Mike Ashley will put his money where his mouth is and back the Newcastle United manager in the transfer market.

Newcastle, unbeaten this season go into the game tomorrow looking to cement their place at the top of the Championship. However, they will have to do so without big Andy Carroll, Shola Ameobi and Jonas Gutierrez. Return signing Peter Lovenkrands is also a doubt as there are questions about the pacey attacker’s fitness.

We’ve always said that when we get a few players out we’ll suffer for it, and here we are barely into the second month of the season and we’re having to play the kids. Look for Nile Ranger to feature up front with a possible substitute place for much fancied Harris Vuckic. There is some good news though – Geremi and Coloccini are available for selection. Happy days.

Newcastle United old boy Michael Chopra is in great form – scoring four home goals and a total of seven for the season.

I think this one is too close to call and I just can’t see where Newcastle are going to get goals from.

Verdict: Cardiff City 1 – Newcastle United 1