Newcastle United are in severe discomfort off the pitch, with Mike Ashley seeking a staggering 100 per cent profit on his investment in the club from potential investors, and they are in agony on it. A club with no manager and a reluctant owner have perilously few players, with Alan Smith expected to be unavailable for up to three months because of a leg injury.

Ashley and his directors have been in the Middle East since the sportswear retailer announced his decision to sell Newcastle on Sunday, attempting to stoke up interest in the club. Buyers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been targeted, but Ashley’s initial asking price of about £483 million is viewed as unrealistic and his emotive public statement has also prompted concerns.

Ashley’s demands are reportedly contained in documents seen by representatives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai’s ruler, this week. That figure is approximately double what the billionaire paid to buy the club and stabilise their debt last summer and is unlikely to attract takers, particularly given the prevailing turmoil on Tyneside.

“That price is just too much for this club, but we will see what happens and what offer can be made,” a source told Arabian Business, the newspaper, stipulating that any bid would be at a “much lower” level.

However, sources close to Sheikh Mohammed reiterated last night that the Dubai ruling family is interested only in buying Liverpool, leaving Newcastle to look elsewhere in the region for investment.

Ashley’s contention that he and his family had been advised not to attend Newcastle matches for security reasons has been dismissed by police and supporters and has not encouraged financial backers. A quick sale would represent the ideal situation, but it is doubtful whether the lack of a successor to Kevin Keegan — and no momentum behind any available candidate — and a deflated dressing-room will help. Injuries and suspensions are biting deep at the club; Smith had a scan yesterday on a suspected stress fracture to the ankle and surgery could rule him out for 12 weeks.

Even without an operation, the 27-year-old will be asked to rest for eight weeks, a blow that Newcastle can scarcely afford. The former Manchester United player may not be popular among supporters, but bodies are in desperately short supply.

Already without Joey Barton for another five matches after his recent suspension, Danny Guthrie may be facing a similar spell of inactivity in the wake of his dismissal against Hull City last weekend. The midfield player will receive an automatic three-game ban for violent conduct after twice lunging at Craig Fagan, but the FA has reserved the right to increase his punishment and could bring a disrepute charge.

Other damage has been less self-inflicted. Jonás Gutiérrez, the influential summer signing from Real Mallorca, fractured a bone in his arm in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Peru last week and may be out for a month and, while Habib Beye does not require surgery to correct an Achilles tendon problem, the date of the defender’s return has not been clarified.

Mark Viduka, the Australia striker, is a month away from returning from an Achilles injury and neither José Enrique (hamstring) nor Andy Carroll (foot) are expected to return for Saturday’s game away to West Ham United. Damien Duff and Obafemi Martins are nearing full fitness, but their participation at Upton Park is not guaranteed.