Morning all,

midway through the week and it'd be a lie to say spirits weren't slightly lifted by last night's European action. Sp*rs took a 4-0 hammering at the Bernebeu. Normally this would be just classified under general amusement but given the week we've had you take any little lift where you can get it.

Tuesday will see Groan's fourth birthday as a blog I started it a few days after the 2007 Carling Cup final defeat to Chelsea, and since then I've haven't had the opportunity to preview or cover another showpiece day. Tomorrow, that all changes as we take on Birmingham in the final of the same competition.

By Chris Wright

As I'm sure you're aware, Andy Carroll's eleventh-hour deadline day switch to Liverpool left Newcastle with £35 million to plug the gap left in their front-line by the bruising striker and about an hour or so to do it in.

As a result (and coupled with a face-mashing injury to Shola Ameobi), Toon are a little on 'short' side up top these days, with manager Alan Pardew left to scour the post-deadline free market in order to replenish his attacking options.

Shefki Kuqi joins Jermaine Aliadiere and Ewerthon as a potential striking option for Newcastle United. Finnish striker Shefki Kuqi is the latest free agent to be linked with a short-term contract at Newcastle to provide front line support until the end of the season. The chunky 6ft 2in, 34 year old striker has done a [.

The Daily Mail is reporting today that former Middlesbrough and Arsenals striker Jeremie Aliadiere has held talks with Newcastle United over a deal to sign for the club through the end of the season. Jeremie Aliediere - in talks with Newcastle Newcastle have only two fit strikers at the moment in Peter Lovenkrands and Nile [.

Thierry Henry looks like being a non-starter but Jermaine Aliadiere might be an option to shore up Newcastle United's striking options. According to some press reports Jermaine Aliadiere is in talks with Newcastle about joining the club until the end of the season. Admittedly the reports seem to have started in the Daily Mail as [.

It was a big discussion on this site yesterday, and it seems that Alan Pardew is officially interested in French free agent striker Jeremie Aliadiere. Jeremie Aliadiere brought in on loan? Jeremie started his career at Arsenal, and then moved to Middlesbrough in 2007, and he's a talented player, but for whatever reason has [.

According to the Blackpool Gazette, Blackpool are looking to sign free agent striker Jeremie Aliadiere to a deal that will keep him at the club until the end of the season. Aliadiere had a total of 11 goals for Middlesbrough between 2007 and 2011.