Stewart Downing
Newcastle not in for Downing, Pardew insists. (Reuters)

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has played down reports linking the club with a move for Stewart Downing, insisting he is unaware where reports of a bid for the Liverpool winger have come from.

Having signed Loic Remy from Queens Park Rangers on a season long loan deal, Newcastle are looking to make further additions to their squad after narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season, with reports suggesting a cut price move for the 29-year-old winger could be in the offing.

But when asked of the club's interest in the Liverpool wide man following his side's 1-1 draw with Rangers at Ibrox last night, Pardew ruled out such a move.

"I don't know where that really came from," Pardew said. "There's been no enquiry from us and we have made no noises to Liverpool."

The arrival of French international Remy has been the club's first significant piece of transfer business this summer. The striker rejected the opportunity to join the Magpies in January, opting to move to Queens Park Rangers who were subsequently relegated last season.

But despite the former Marseille man's decision to snub the club eight months ago, Pardew holds no grudge and has backed the 26-year-old to flourish at St James' Park, while also promising "one or two" more additions to the squad.

"What Remy brings is spontaneity. He brings a kind of finish that at times we lacked last year," Pardew was quoted as saying by the Mirror.

"He's a striker that gets all types of goals. He's somebody I sat and had a meal with and thought he had signed six months ago, so it was nice that Joe (Kinnear) got it over the line this time. I think he also brings us a bigger threat to the goal. I think we need that especially at home.

"When you come to St James' Park at the back end of last year I didn't think we threatened the goal enough and he will bring us that. He'll add to the group we've got. "

Remy is a doubt for Newcastle's curtain raiser against Premier League runners up Manchester City having arrived at the club with a hamstring injury he picked up during his final weeks at QPR.

The Frenchman has not trained for three weeks, but may feature on the bench for their game against Manuel Pellegrini's side.