The 61-year-old will send his team out at Chelsea on Saturday uncertain how long he will remain in charge at St James' Park with the club's ownership still up for grabs.

However, he has a shortlist of potential targets to give to current owner Mike Ashley should his stay extend into the new year, and it is understood the names of the the Roma defender and Arsenal midfielder are on it.

Kinnear has made no secret of his belief that the current squad needs significant strengthening if relegation from the Premier League is to be avoided, and if the club remains in his hands, Ashley faces a big decision over any further investment.

The interim boss did not identify his targets by name, but has hinted at making loan moves for Riise and Denilson.

Kinnear said: "I have already got my shortlist ready and I will be giving it to Mike.

"We need two players in as soon as possible, and I have them in mind.

"One is with Roma and he is not in the team at the moment. The other is a player who has already scored against us this season.

"I know their agents and what they would be is loan deals from January until the end of the season. I already know the player in Rome would cost us £2million to bring over here.

"We need to strengthen the team and the squad, and if we can get them, they would be a big boost because both are top-class players."

Norway international Riise, 28, joined Roma in a £4million switch from Liverpool during the summer and despite starting eight league games this season, is not an automatic selection.

Twenty-year-old Brazilian Denilson is one of Arsene Wenger's emerging talents and has figured in 18 of the Gunners' 21 games to date this season.

Kinnear revealed shortly after his arrival on Tyneside that he is a close friend of Wenger's and was a regular visitor to the Arsenal training ground during his time out of management.

But while January is firmly on his mind, the manager has more immediate problems as he prepares for a trip to Stamford Bridge with a squad weakened further by the absence of midfielder Joey Barton and defender Steven Taylor.

Barton is unlikely to play again this calendar year after damaging the medial ligament in his right knee last weekend, while Taylor has been ruled out of the clash with Luiz Felipe Scolari's free-scoring league leaders with the abdominal muscle injury which has sidelined him for the last two games.

The England Under-21 skipper could return at Middlesbrough next weekend, although Kinnear faces a tough decision without him as he attempts to select a central defensive partnership from Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong and Claudio Cacapa, and then another over which of Bassong, Jose Enrique or Charles N'Zogbia gets the nod at left-back.

He said: "If I knew what strikers Chelsea would play, then that would be helpful. I could be looking at who would be best at coping with Joe Cole."

Newcastle have not won at Chelsea in 12 years, a run of 19 matches, although Kinnear will head south knowing there are at least goals in his team.

England international Michael Owen is having to remain patient as he awaits his return to the starting line-up - and thereafter, to the international stage - but his manager will not take the inventive approach of predecessor Kevin Keegan.

He said: "People keep telling me that Kevin played Michael in midfield, but I cannot see me doing that. I have no intention of playing Michael Owen in midfield, none whatsoever.

"I played all three - Shola Ameobi, Oba Martins and Michael - in the last half an hour at Fulham, and I could do it again at Chelsea.

"It's all a bit gung-ho, but I have never been afraid to make changes."