Newcastle Can Make Impact

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Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce is backing his side to make an impact in the Barclays Premier League this season.

The Magpies have got off to an encouraging start and remain unbeaten five games into the campaign as they prepare for Monday night's trip to Derby despite wholesale changes at St James' Park this summer.

Fit and ready: Michael Owen could be Newcastle's major weapon

As well as a new owner, a new chairman and a new manager, Allardyce is busily trying to settle nine new signings into his squad, and the early signs have caused a buzz on Tyneside.

The former Bolton manager admits the top four is probably beyond a side which finished in a disappointing 13th place last season at this stage in his reign, but he is excited at the prospect of mounting a genuine charge back towards the business end of the division.

Allardyce said: "I am not saying it (the squad) is good enough to break into the top four because we are all new and we are only just coming together.

"But if it realises its potential as quickly as it can, then we could go a long way this year - if we steer clear of injuries.

"At the moment, we are not fully aware of all our strengths and weaknesses, and we are also short with long-term injuries to Celestine Babayaro, Damien Duff, Joey Barton, Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage.

"Emre rang in saying he got injured playing international football again, so that's disappointing having only had him fit for one game. That's a massive blow for us and for him.

"But the squad is looking good and looking sharp. It just needs to gel together in terms of knowing our strengths and weaknesses, and hopefully we will get better and better.

"If we can do that, hopefully results will follow if we keep this clean sheet mentality and a Michael Owen or an Obafemi Martins or a Mark Viduka stays in the goalscoring mood they are in.

"It could be very, very good for us over the next few weeks and months."

Allardyce's optimism has spread throughout the club to dispel the air of doom and gloom which characterised the Graeme Souness era and the latter days of Glenn Roeder's tenure.

The acquisitions of Viduka, David Rozehnal, Barton, Geremi, Alan Smith, Jose Enrique, Claudio Cacapa, Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye with Scott Parker, Kieron Dyer, Nolberto Solano, Titus Bramble, Antoine Sibierski and Albert Luque among those to leave St James' represents a major overhaul.

However, a total outlay of around £25million, offset by the £15million or so the club recouped from sales, is testament to the astute dealings of Allardyce, chairman Chris Mort and chief operating officer Russell Cushing.

Allardyce said: "On reflection, the work we did in the transfer market, me and the chairman with Russell, we did exceptionally well.

"I thank them all for that and all the hard work that's gone on behind the scenes, and the tough negotiations that had to be handled over the last few months.

"Finally at the end, we have come out with a squad that is definitely a lot better in strength and depth and quality than last season's.

"We have done that with very, very good budgeting as well. The value of the players we have picked up is extremely good compared to all the money that has been spent elsewhere.

"We have got real value for money, and I hope the lads go on and prove that this year.

"We have got off to a very good start with a new set of players, with a new manager and a new set of staff, and going undefeated at this stage is very, very good.

"That comes from all the hard work behind the scenes, not just with the staff and the players, but also with the chairman and the staff on the other side at the stadium."