Magpies eye Gabbidon in bid to plug holes

NEWCASTLE are running the rule over Welsh international Danny Gabbidon as they continue the search for new talent to address their defensive problems.

The 24-year-old Cardiff star was watched by United's chief scout Charlie Woods in his side's 3-0 victory over Crewe at Ninian Park on Saturday.

It is understood that the Magpies have had the £6million-rated stopper watched in his last four games and they are not alone with Arsenal's Stewart Houston also among the crowd in South Wales at the weekend.

United boss Bobby Robson has received glowing reports on the player, an international team-mate of Gary Speed and Craig Bellamy, but he prides himself on casting his net far and wide and Gabbidon will be one of several potential targets.

Successive Magpies' managers have spent time and big money attempting to solve long-standing defensive problems, and although last January's £9m swoop for Jonathan Woodgate was perhaps the best attempt yet, his absence following surgery to repair a double hernia, which proved straightforward, has once again exposed the holes at the back.

Titus Bramble, a £4.5m signing from Ipswich, had finally started to build his reputation at St James' Park with a series of solid displays, but the wild swing at the ball on Friday night which allowed Thierry Henry to put Arsenal on the road to a 3-2 victory sent him back to square one.