Kinnear hints at Ashley U-turn

Dennis Wise is still working on recruitment at Newcastle United and might attend St James' Park for Monday night's game against Aston Villa, the caretaker manager Joe Kinnear revealed yesterday.

Kinnear added that the owner Mike Ashley may have to accept the possibility that he will be unable to sell the club in the current economic climate and that a decision on Newcastle's short-term future is expected after the visit to Chelsea on 22 November.

Asked if Ashley might do a U-turn and reconsider his decision to sell the club, Kinnear said: "From the times I've met him – and I might be talking out of turn here – I think he's the sort of guy who would. I know he's deeply hurt by what's happened. I don't know how he would do it: Who does he talk to? What does he say?

"I think you will get that [a statement] from him after the Chelsea game. I think he will have to – it's been a long time without anything being said now. I think I was originally brought in for eight games and in that timespan he thought the club would be sold. Now, if it's not, he's got to come up with other ideas. I think he's prepared to sit down and say 'OK, where do we go from here?'"

In case Ashley decides to postpone a sale, Kinnear said he that he has been ringing old scouting friends around the country and talking to director of football Wise about January transfer targets. "I've compiled a list of players up and down the country who I would like," Kinnear said. "If it is a case where Mike Ashley says, 'Yeah, you're here,' I want to be prepared.

"Me and Dennis have traded names. We're looking at it twofold – he's looking for ones for the future, I'd like ones for the first team because I'm selfish."

Kinnear added that he hoped Michael Owen would be on the bench on Monday.