Newcastle United journalist John Gibson has expressed his concern about the state of the forward position at the club.
Whilst Newcastle have completed a move for Joe Willock, there hasn’t been a lot of other transfer activity when it comes to players making the move to St. James’ Park so far this summer.
And whilst the club do have three natural centre-forwards available for selection as well as a few others who can play the position if required, with the likes of Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Dwight Gayle susceptible to injuries, there isn’t really an awful lot of depth there to last for a whole season.
That is why Gibson, speaking on the latest edition of NUFC Matters, expressed his concern about their options up top, especially as he didn’t think that Newcastle were going to invest in the position between now and the end of the window:
“I think we could get caught out badly up top this season because of a lack of depth. Because we know – and it’s a sad fact – we know that Callum Wilson will not play all 38 Premier League games this season because he’s too injury-prone. He will not play all 38.
“For that matter, Saint-Maximin won’t play all 38, because they’re injury-prone; at some stage, they will get an injury. Hopefully, not a long one, but it has been that way in the past.
“When Callum Wilson’s injured, we’ve got to rely on Dwight Gayle, and if he hits a patch where it’s not happening for him or he becomes depressed or disillusioned – and I know he did well against Norwich, but that’s a one-off friendly against a team that are relegation favourites and had a bunch of kids in.
“So I am concerned about up top, but evidently Steve Bruce isn’t, so I don’t think we’re going to buy up top.”
TIF Thoughts on John Gibson’s comments about the forward situation at Newcastle United…
Will Newcastle avoid the drop this season?
Yes
No
Gibson is right in that there isn’t a lot of stability and reliability when it comes to the forward options, with their injury records good proof of that, and even if the club does have to rely on Gayle, his record in the Premier League isn’t much to shout about, failing to reach double digits in any campaign.
The numbers from last season showed that Newcastle United were rather reliant on Wilson to get the goals, with him being the only one to hit double digits, and whilst Willock might be able to break that if his form from last year is anything to go by, that’s still an awful lot of pressure mounted on just two players.
So another addition up top, whether it be on loan or as a permanent signing, should certainly be a priority for Newcastle United this summer, but whether or not they’ll get one through the door before the window closes is another matter.
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