Joe Kinnear, the Newcastle United manager, held talks with Mike Ashley, the club’s billionaire owner, last night to outline his concerns at the mounting injury problems hampering his squad. Kinnear is without 11 first-team players for the FA Cup third-round replay against Hull City at St James’ Park this evening.

Only one of those, Andy Carroll, 20, has any chance of recovering in time for the Barclays Premier League trip to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Despite putting in place a deal to sign Peter Lovenkrands, the former Rangers forward, for the rest of the season and with two unnamed midfield players likely to join on loan, Kinnear felt the need to air his worries with the club hierarchy yesterday. “The meeting was called hastily after I explained the difficult position we’re in,” Kinnear said before he met Derek Llambias, the managing director. Ashley remained in contact throughout from London via conference call.

“We need to act quickly,” Kinnear said. “We need to talk to Mike and we need to get cracking. We’re going to go through everything, all the ideas we’ve got for players, and we’ll put the ball in his court. We do need funds. It won’t be a massive amount, but I’m still hopeful Mike will release them.”

Newcastle are in eleventh place in the Premier League, but they are only three points clear of the relegation zone. Kinnear issued his warning with an eye on the daunting schedule facing his side once the transfer window closes on February 2. After Sunderland’s visit 24 hours previously, Newcastle’s next four home games are against Everton, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

“I’m not sure if they [thye board] understand, but I’ll make that point to them tonight,” he said. “I’ve looked at the same fixtures as you and if we’re in the position we’re in now, it’d be very difficult to win any of those games with the crisis we’ve got injury-wise.”

Regarding Lovenkrands, who has been released by Schalke 04, and his other potential recruits, Kinnear, who denied any interest in Nigel Quashie, the Birmingham City and Scotland midfield player, said: “It looks OK on Peter. I know his agent and he’s accepted an offer until the end of the season. There are two midfield players, one Argentine, one Italian. The loan fees for them are £350,000 and £400,000 until the end of the season because we weren’t in a position to pay what their clubs wanted to buy them.”