4. Cheikh MBengue
Another defensive option for Kinnear to push through is long-term Magpies target Cheikh MBengue. The French-born Senegalese international fits Newcastle's blueprint perfectly in that the North East club have recruited several of his compatriots in the past, such as Demba Ba, while the Magpies have been scouting the left-back
for the last two years. Newcastle fear fullback Davide Santon may return to Italy this summer, two years after moving from Inter Milan, which would free up space for MBengue in Pardew's starting XI. Mbengue was at one point being tracked by Arsenal, and the 24-year-old has been capped 10 times by Senegal at senior level. He's also made 137 appearances for current club Toulouse, and is known as a touch tackler. In fact, in the 2007-08 season, he received a
13-match suspension for a dangerous tackle, but has matured since then.