KEVIN KEEGAN has admitted the transfer deadline is likely to pass Newcastle United by. It’s not exactly the news United supporters want to hear coming hard on last night’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal at The Emirates – the same scoreline when the two teams met in the FA Cup on Saturday. But Keegan quickly added that there will be exciting times ahead in the summer when he expects to bring in several top-class players. The Chronicle revealed yesterday that United had slapped in a bid for Derby County’s exciting teenager Giles Barnes, but Rams boss Paul Jewell did not want to know. Keegan does not think the Barnes deal can be resurrected or that there is time to sign anyone else who can strengthen his squad before midnight tomorrow. And while you can never say never as far as United are concerned, Keegan told me: “I’ll be honest with you – I’ve sat down and looked, and there isn’t anyone out there who is going to strengthen us better than when the four players to come back from the African Nations Cup.” Brazilian centre-half Alvaro, currently with Spanish side Levante, was the latest name to be linked with a move to St James’s Park, although Keegan has already indicated he was only looking for players with Premier League experience at this stage. If Keegan does not expect to be involved in any last-day buying, he is clearly not interested in letting any of his first-team squad go. Several clubs have been eyeing United players such as strikers Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll. But the United boss added: “I cannot let anybody go out. I’ve had inquiries for three players – one loan and two to sell – but I can’t do it. It would be madness. “It would be impossible to sell as I haven’t got enough players.” United are hoping to add one player to their staff in the next 48 hours but he is a young Italian who, if he does put pen to paper, is likely to be one for the future. So after talking about bringing in three or four players a fortnight ago Keegan has had to have a reality check. To make matters worse, not only did United lose last night but they have now picked up just a single point out of their last six games and have failed to score in their last four Premier League matches. And N’Zogbia’s booking last night brings a one-match ban, meaning that he will sit out the game at Villa Park a week on Saturday. But at least Joey Barton is back in the picture after coming off the bench last night to only mild taunts from the Arsenal supporters, while Emre completed his three-match ban and is available for Sunday’s derby match with Middlesbrough at St James’s Park. This leaves Mark Viduka, but only the Aussie striker seems to knows whether he will be ready to face his former club. | 
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