The Magpies are facing a tough few days ahead in the window as their summer hits a critical period
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits that he is facing a race against time to get a new striker in the door in time for the season’s opener at Aston Villa.
The Magpies have just 11 days left to land a goalscorer for their clash at Villa Park after moves to sign Joao Pedro and Hugo Ekitike failed.
The Alexandar Isak affair has also added strain on the squad forcing Howe to try out William Osula in three pre-season matches without success before reverting to Anthony Gordon as a makeshift 9 against Tottenham Hotspur.
Howe told Chronicle Live before leaving Seoul: “There’s not much time left (to get a player in for Villa). Especially when you consider you have to get any player up to speed with how we play, whoever comes in.
“And get into the intricacies of what we do. It is not easy and it is not easy for people to do that straight away.
“We are still active in the market and looking for players.”
Newcastle have players like Yoane Wissa and Ollie Watkins on their wish-list and Howe knows that there is a big void in the squad.
Howe, who led his side to a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, said: “We lost Callum Wilson who in himself is a massive loss. You add that to Alex who has not been with us, we have certainly felt their absence.”
Howe had suggested last night, before leaving South Korea, that Isak would not walk back into the team if he stays. He said: “You have to earn the right to train with us. We’re Newcastle United.
“The player has a responsibility here to be part of a team and part of a squad – you have to act in the right way. So that is also at play here.
“We will make sure that any player does that to earn the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal.”
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