Joe Kinnear, the Newcastle United manager, has targeted John Arne Riise as a possible loan signing during the transfer window should the club remain in Mike Ashley's hands, although the proposed takeover of the club has not stalled. Two American groups are in discussions about buying the club, one of whom is engaged in due diligence, but progress is slow and back-up plans are being formulated.

In any case, there has never been a less inviting moment to push through what effectively represents a trophy acquisition, even one that may eventually offer a financial return; it is no coincidence that the pace of progress is painful. That explains why discussions between Kinnear and Ashley, planned for after today's match away to Chelsea, have been postponed.

Yet the interim manager is working on the assumption that he will be in situ during January, in which case Newcastle's threadbare squad will require strengthening, particularly in defence. The club have recently had Stephen Warnock, the Blackburn Rovers left back, watched and Riise, the former Liverpool player who is now at Roma, is another possible addition. Both men were targets of Kevin Keegan, the previous manager.

Denilson, the Arsenal midfield player, has also been linked with Newcastle, as has David Di Michele, the Torino striker who is on loan at West Ham United. “I have already got my shortlist ready and I will be giving it to Mike,” Kinnear said. “We need two players in as soon as possible and I have them in mind.

“One is with Roma and he is not in the team at the moment and the other is a player who has already scored against us this season. I know their agents and they would be loan deals from January until the end of the season. I already know that the player in Rome would cost us £2million to bring him over here. But we need to strengthen the team and the squad.”

Kinnear has confirmed that Joey Barton may require surgery on the medial ligament damage he suffered during the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic last week.

Even if an operation is necessary, it will not affect his likely eight-week recovery period. In the meantime, Kinnear has told the troubled Barton to “just concentrate on his football”.

Chelsea have beaten Middlesbrough and Sunderland 5-0 this season, but Kinnear does not expect Newcastle to make it a North East hat-trick for the league leaders and capitulate at Stamford Bridge. “The biggest problem some teams have when they play one of the ‘big four' is that they go there with fear,” he said.

“They go there too negative. You can't be scared when you play these games, you have to look forward to the challenge. When I was a player I used to love playing against George Best because it was a test for me.”

Kinnear has invited Alan Shearer, the bookmakers' favourite for the full-time managerial position at Newcastle, to “learn his trade” under him. Shearer currently works in the media and Kinnear said: “I have the utmost respect for Shearer. I would be delighted if he wanted to come here two days a week and see for himself what football is all about.”