The 61-year-old had guided his side to a creditable return of eight points from five games before Sunday's narrow Barclays Premier League defeat at Fulham, to ease them out of the relegation zone.

They returned to the bottom three as a result of the 2-1 reverse at Craven Cottage, but are confident of dragging themselves away from the foot of the table once again when Wigan head for St James' Park at the weekend, and of mounting a sustained climb.

However, Kinnear is only too well aware of the lack of depth within the squad he inherited from Kevin Keegan, and with Uruguayan midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez having joined Mark Viduka and Alan Smith on the long-term casualty list, knows they cannot afford to lose many more bodies.

He said: "If we can keep our best team together, then we are a far better, stronger side than we are when we lose key players.

"We have got enough ammunition about us, providing - and there is a proviso - that we stay with the squad we have got.

"If we pick up injuries, then we struggle. That's our Achilles heel.

"If two or three key players hit the wall, then we struggle to replace them, and that is something that should be addressed in the long term as we come to the next window.

"That's an area that needs to be addressed. It's the under-belly of the side.

"We have got people who are prepared to come in and give plenty of effort, but they haven't got the same sort of ability as the ones we are losing going out."

Kinnear's fears were illustrated on Sunday when, with Steven Taylor sidelined by a groin injury, he recalled 32-year-old Claudio Cacapa to the side and saw the Brazilian struggle in his first start for more than a month.

Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Jonas Gutierrez have only just returned to the scene for differing reasons, while Shola Ameobi's return to form has been a major bonus for the interim manager.

However, the inadequacy of the club's summer recruitment drive, which prompted Keegan to resign, has been illustrated graphically in recent weeks with loan signing Gonzalez having played for only a few minutes and Xisco, currently sidelined by a hamstring problem, having made not much more of an impact.

But with owner Mike Ashley currently attempting to offload the club, there is no guarantee the squad will be strengthened in January.

One man who will almost certainly be in the starting line-up on Saturday is keeper Shay Given, who is in line to make his 452nd appearance for the club against Wigan.

Only three men have played more games for the Magpies, and the Irishman is within touching distance of Jimmy Lawrence's club record of 496.

However, after suffering a perforated bowel in a collision with then West Ham striker Marlon Harewood a little more than two seasons ago, he knows he can take nothing for granted.

Given said: "I don't look at it too much, to be honest. I made my 450th appearance against Aston Villa - I didn't know before the game.

"I always just look to the next game, given the injuries I have had in the last couple of years.

"You are one challenge away from never playing again, so I don't like to look too far ahead.

"I would love to get it (the record), but if I don't get it, I don't get it.

"You just play and do your best for the club and see where that takes you."