Contemplating the vast emptiness of Newcastle United’s dressing-room, Glenn Roeder could not resist a chuckle when he heard fellow managers complaining about injuries. This week, Roeder conducted a training session comprising only four senior players, yet, unlike some of his peers, he has refrained from making easy excuses.

While he declined to pinpoint individuals, Roeder’s comments clearly referred to José Mourinho and Harry Redknapp. He has endured a prickly relationship with the latter since succeeding him at West Ham United.

There was wry humour in Roeder’s voice yesterday when he compared his meagre resources with those at other clubs; absenteeism for today’s FA Cup third-round tie away to Birmingham City is in double figures.

“I’m starting to have a giggle to myself at managers — and some very high-profile ones — who are complaining at having three or four players out,” he said. “They ought to try it up here for a week. We are having to stagger the times injured players come in for treatment because it is impossible to treat them all at 9.30am.”

Was he referring specifically to Mourinho? “I said ‘managers’,” Roeder replied. “There’s another one even farther south who has a saying about ‘bare bones’ and that would mean his last 18 players.”