Despite an upturn in fortunes, Newcastle still need defensive reinforcements. Injuries continue to strike and redefine the starting centre-back pairing, and it's clear that the squad depth can only stretch so far. There are a number of approaches Pardew and the transfer team (with the emphasis on the latter rather than the former) could go for: either bring in a short-term solution (a loan or older player to bridge the gap), a young upcoming player to go onto the bench, or an immediate first team starter. Clearly the last solution is the most expensive, and Pardew might be put off by the expensive "failure" that was Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. And of course there's the question of who would be dropped to accommodate the new signing. The option of bringing in a young player for the future might already have been addressed with the summer signing of Jamaal Lascelles, but he will need partners in the back four and Fabricio Coloccini won't be around forever. And even though it would seem against policy, bringing in a loan or an older player might not be the worst idea. With those thoughts in mind, we're looking at ten centre-back talents who Newcastle should be considering this winter...
