Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is hoping to reinforce his squad with new signings before the transfer window slams shut in a weeks time.

Speaking after his sides goalless draw with Aston Villa — their second consecutive game that they have failed to find the back of the net — Pardew revealed that he would be looking to strengthen his forward line but also admitted it may be difficult in the current market.

“I think that the recent activity, on the striker front in particular, has shown that the market is very very difficult. Jordan Rhodes’s price looks heavy so we are looking at the options that are good enough for us,” said the Newcastle manager.

And with Ross McCormack costing Fulham £11 million from Leeds United while Southampton splashed out £12m on Shane Long from Hull City, Pardew believes he will have to look abroad for new players.

“We keep talking about British players being promoted and every time we go and try and buy one it’s very difficult,” said Pardew.  “They become stuck in the system, it’s such a shame.  If we could have some realism around our own strikers maybe they would get more opportunities.”

Despite failing to find the back of the net Newcastle did have chances to snatch the points with Siem de Jong and Ayoze Perez going close in the latter stages of the game.

But Mike Williamson’s dismissal in stoppage time curbed their attacking threat and both teams walked away with the share of the spoils.