Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan is confident he will be handed a sizeable summer transfer kitty as he bids to strengthen his struggling squad.

Keegan has yet to record a victory as Magpies boss since returning for his second stint in the St James' Park hot-seat in January.

And that poor run of form has seen Newcastle slump into relegation trouble as they sit in 13th position in the Premier League and only six points clear of the drop zone.

Keegan recognises he needs to bring up to five new faces to Tyneside to bolster his ranks and says he has been promised money to spend by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

But the former Manchester City boss, who welcomes European hopefuls Blackburn to the north-east on Saturday, insists his main priority is to secure Newcastle's place in the top flight next season.

"We haven't really discussed it but I was promised money when I came so it'll be there," Keegan told the Newcastle Chronicle. "I don't think I need worry about that.

"But the first thing I need to do is get to 40 points and make sure we're in the Premier League. That's still there to be done.

"Then I've got to go and get the three, four or five players that are hopefully going to turn this place around.

"I've got a small squad. There are so few options within this squad."

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