Quinn: Toon need new icon

TOON legend Micky Quinn has urged Alan Pardew to bring in an ‘iconic No9’ to help kick Newcastle United on to the next level.

The Magpies chief is continuing his striker search as he seeks a replacement this summer for Andy Carroll.

Demba Ba has already been added to the Newcastle squad, with Pardew saying he expects the Senegalese international to score 15-25 goals next season.

Ba has taken the No19 shirt, meaning the No9 still stands unclaimed since Carroll’s departure to Liverpool in January.

And Quinn – who wore the famous shirt with such aplomb in the late 1980s and early 1990s, scoring 63 times – has called on Pardew and owner Mike Ashley to invest the £35m they got for Carroll in a top striker capable of following in the footsteps of the likes of Jackie Milburn, Malcolm Macdonald and Alan Shearer.

“There’s no iconic No9 there in my opinion,” said Quinn. “From what I’ve seen, there’s no one ready to take on the shirt.

“Maybe they can go with Shola Ameobi or one other, but they really need to sign at least one more striker, a No9, to keep them in the league and help them progress.

“But from what I have seen of Mike Ashley, I doubt whether they will get all the money.

“He came in as the white knight and saved the club to some extent.

“However, I always think there’s something around the corner with him. I’m suspicious of his intentions.”

Newcastle retain an interest in Paris St Germain’s Turkish international Mevlut Erdinc, having been frustrated in their attempts to sign Kevin Gameiro and Gervinho.

Any new signing will have to compete with Ba, Ameobi and Peter Lovenkrands for a starting berth up front, with Newcastle prepared to sell fellow strikers Leon Best and Nile Ranger this summer.

And Quinn is disappointed that Ranger seems to not have a future at St James’s Park.

“I’ve seen a bit of Nile and he has got a lot of potential,” he added.

“What I would like to see is him given a run of games, maybe five or six games, to show what he can do.”

i agree with quinn, you never know whats around the corner with ashley.