Alan Pardew wants Newcastle to buy two or three players in January

Alan Pardew will ask Newcastle owner Mike Ashley to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window.

The Newcastle manager, 51, believes the club did not buy enough new players in the summer, and is hopeful Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias will offer the financial backing needed.

"I need a couple of players in this group, and maybe even three," Pardew said before their game with QPR.

"Whether we can get them here, on a financial front, remains to be seen."

Ashley and Llambias will have the final say on any signings, but Pardew is confident they will agree on the squad's needs.

Pardew brought in Vurnon Anita from Ajax, Curtis Good from Melbourne Heart, Gael Bigirimana from Coventry and Romain Amalfitano from Reims in the summer.

But 19-year-old Good has been loaned out to Bradford while Amalfitano, 23, has featured only in Europa League ties.

"Of course they are," was the reply from Pardew when asked if Ashley and Llambias would be receptive of his plans.

"Mike would openly say that, in the summer, we should have bought another player."

Pardew is hoping for three points against struggling QPR at St James' Park on Saturday to make Christmas more enjoyable.

More importantly, however, three points would help improve a poor run that has seen the Magpies lose six of their last seven Premier League outings - with just one win in that period.

He said: "I wouldn't enjoy it [Christmas] if we got a draw either.

"But a win would ease my burden, because it is a burden. I don't want to be Newcastle manager and lose, I don't like it.

"The fans are hurting, but no more so than me and the players."