Magpies boss Joe Kinnear is eager to bring new faces to St James' Park before the transfer window closes on Monday.

He has lost midfielder Joey Barton for the next eight weeks after the former Manchester City player fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in last night's defeat against his old club.

Nolan would fit the bill as a replacement for Barton, however it is not known whether Bolton are prepared to sell.

The 26-year-old Trotters skipper has made over 300 appearances for Bolton since emerging in the first team as a teenager, and in previous seasons has been tipped as a potential England international.

Nolan has scored just once this season, a disappointing return by his standards, and Bolton have struggled.

They are perched three points outside the Barclays Premier League relegation zone but have a one-point edge over Newcastle, whose campaign has been blighted by controversy, poor performance and a succession of injuries.

Bolton signed midfielder Mark Davies from Wolves earlier this week and have also been chasing the signature of Sporting Lisbon's much-admired Miguel Veloso, who was also linked with Newcastle.

Nolan returned from a two-match suspension and a minor ankle operation to feature in yesterday's match at Blackburn, where manager Gary Megson's side went two goals up in the first half but were pegged back to 2-2.

Newcastle have been linked with Nolan in previous years, when Sam Allardyce and Kevin Keegan were in charge.

Newcastle know they will be without Barton and striker Michael Owen for a long spell, and they are alive to the possibility that goalkeeper Shay Given may be leaving the club before the transfer window closes.

Owen, also injured last night, was today undergoing an ankle scan and faces around six weeks out.

It also looks increasingly as though Given will be leaving Newcastle to join Manchester City before the February 2 deadline.

Reports have suggested the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper may hand in a formal transfer request in a bid to break the deadlock between the clubs over the transfer fee.

Charles N'Zogbia, who like Given did not feature at Eastlands because of an injury, has also been linked with a move, with Wigan and Aston Villa reportedly in the frame.

A player potentially coming in is Toulouse right-back Albin Ebondo, with Kinnear claiming: "We're still tied up in negotiations.

"The original price was £2.5million but (Toulouse) moved the goalposts and it's now £3million. We are still out in France negotiating. It's been two weeks now, so we have to wait and see."

With Barton and Owen definitely out and Given and N'Zogbia in doubt, Kinnear is struggling to put together a side for the derby against Sunderland this weekend.

Nicky Butt is back from suspension and although Mark Viduka (Achilles), Claudio Cacapa (knee) and Alan Smith (foot/ankle) have all returned to training, the visit of the Black Cats may come too soon for them.

Obafemi Martins (hernia surgery), Shola Ameobi (knee), Habib Beye (ankle) and Tamas Kadar (broken leg) remain on the casualty list.

One positive bit of news for Kinnear is that Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez is available despite receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Manchester City. He will serve the ban next weekend when Newcastle travel to West Brom.