Former Newcastle United striker Peter Lovenkrands has called on Mike Ashley to back the club in the summer market.

The Dane believes it's time for Ashley to spend big again.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "If John Carver - or anybody else - gets the Newcastle United job this summer then they are going to need the investment that the club talked about last week.

"This season has exposed how thin the squad is with injuries and it has been a tough couple of weeks.

"It's time for Mike Ashley to step up and put some money behind it."