We Are One Experienced Central Defender Short

Partner Boumsong?
By Matthew Jones
July 13 2005

With Titus Bramble having been ruled out of action for up to three months, Newcastle United have confirmed that a central defender is a transfer priority.

23-year-old Titus Bramble broke his right elbow during training yesterday, leaving Jean-Alain Boumsong, Steven Taylor, Peter Ramage and Robbie Elliott fit for the Intertoto Cup.

GRAEME SOUNESS: "Finances allowing, I'd like to bring another experienced centre-half in.

"As we speak now, we feel that we are one experienced central defender short.

"With Stephen Carr, both Peter Ramage and Steven Taylor could do a job there, both Ramage and Taylor could do a job at centre-back and we have got Celestine Babayaro at left-back and we have got Robbie Elliott to cover him.

"I would like one more experienced centre-back because if you look at Titus at 23, Jean-Alain Boumsong at 25, Taylor at 19 and Ramage at 21, we do not have a lot of experience in a very important position.