Newcastle pay off Babayaro

Celestine Babayaro yesterday had his contract bought out by Newcastle bosses exasperated with his woeful appearance record.

Sam Allardyce has not been able to call on the £30,000-a-week Nigerian since taking over in May because of a succession of injuries.

With Babayaro having started just 45 league games in the three years since his £1million move from Chelsea, manager Allardyce decided to cut his losses.

Babayaro, 29, had 18 months remaining on his contract but has accepted the buy-out in an attempt to revitalise his career and end a miserable period.

The left back will now search for a new club, despite still being unfit.

He currently has a groin problem.

Striker Michael Owen has recovered more quickly than expected from the torn thigh muscle injury he picked up on international duty with England. Owen was sent to Germany to hasten his recovery and is in line to play against Derby on December 23. His return is especially important to Newcastle, given that top scorer Obafemi Martins will be absent in January because of the African Nations Cup.

Allardyce, currently suffering from a flu virus, will also lose Abdoulaye Faye, Habib Beye and Geremi to the competition.

But chairman Chris Mort has revealed that there is little money to spend in the transfer window and that there will be no stop-gap solutions to Newcastle's lack of numbers.

"We had nine new signings in the summer," said Mort. "I think part of the difficulty we have had, particularly in defence, is getting those guys working together.

"I am not convinced adding another two names in defence is necessarily going to be the solution this season.

"If I made any signings in January, they would be young guys who I could see staying for a very long time, not immediate first-team regulars.

"Anyway, Sam hasn't suggested to me that we need to sign players because of the African Nations Cup."

Allardyce will instead hope that Owen, Damien Duff, Claudio Cacapa and Shola Ameobi can emerge from a campaign blighted by injury to play a key part in the New Year.

Allardyce has arranged a behind-closed-doors game this week in anticipation of Duff, Cacapa and Ameobi playing. Owen, however, is not expected to be risked at this stage.