Let's make ourselves heard, Toon are ordered

Although they are still 11th, Newcastle are only seven points above the relegation places, and could be dragged further into the mire by fourth-bottom Sheffield United at Bramall Lane tomorrow.

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Unrest has spread after two Premiership defeats followed a UEFA Cup exit at AZ Alkmaar and Roeder now has to galvanise a set of players who have not scored in the League for four games, and by his admission are too quiet and have three or four players who are lacking in confidence.

He said: "During the week at the training ground I sat down with the group. I don't like meetings on the day of a game when emotions are running high. I had a very positive response in the training session afterwards.

"We are too quiet as a squad and I want them to be more talkative. That sort of quality will be something I am looking for when I buy new players in the summer.

"We don't need any more quiet personalities. We need more loud people who voice their opinions. It's me who does most of the talking as well as the captain."

The fans were doing plenty of talking after a miserable 1-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Manchester City on Saturday when victory could have virtually banished any fears of relegation.

Roeder added: "On Monday the players were down and they were hurting, like they should be. I was hurting as well.

"We have two or three who are surprisingly low in confidence. There is only one way to get it back and that is hard work. You can make mistakes but play yourself through it. You will not regain your confidence if you don't put a shift in.

"They will have to do it as you can't win games of football at this level if you are carrying three or four players."

A heated atmosphere at Bramall Lane may not be the best place to regain confidence and Roeder said: "We're obviously on a disappointing run. We have not shown an ability this year to not play very well and still dig out a result. Every point we have earned we have deserved.

"I'm very interested to see the reaction of the players at Sheffield United. They will be in our faces and physically very strong. We have to do better than we have done against teams like that.

"There are 21 points to play for to get us in the top half of the table. Then we will evaluate what happened to us this year with our horrific injuries."

Newcastle have given a trial to Turkish left back Erol Bulut. The 32-year- old will train with them until the end of the season with a view to earning a permanent move.

Bulut, whose contract at Greek club Olympiakos runs out in the summer, said: "I wanted to stay with them but I had no chance to play there.

"I didn't get the chance to show what I could do. I hope to prove my worth and stay at Newcastle."