Newcastle United

Newcastle United: Presenter backs top-half Magpies finish despite striker transfer woes

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Image for Newcastle United: Presenter backs top-half Magpies finish despite striker transfer woes

Football Daily’s Joe Thomlinson has made a surprising claim about Newcastle United’s current frontline as the Premier League season gets underway.

The Magpies’ search for a forward player has been no secret this summer. They first reportedly targeted Hugo Ekitike before a deal collapsed, with the striker joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, the Magpies have also been linked with Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby, however, a deal failed to materialise. Now, with the Premier League season underway, they are yet to welcome an attacking player.

But speaking on Football Daily’s Sunday Vibes – prior to the Magpies’ victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday – Thomlinson revealed that he believes the current Newcastle frontline is good enough, saying: “I respect totally how Newcastle are doing business, and even if they don’t get a forward… I think Eddie Howe will be quite comfortable going into next season with the current crop he’s got, if he can’t get one, to finish in the top 10.

“I genuinely believe that forward line can finish top-10 without an attacker.”

TIF Thoughts on Newcastle’s frontline…

As things stand, with Callum Wilson fit and starting the season with a goal, we’d have to agree with Thomlinson’s verdict. It must be said, though, that as good a finisher as he proved he is on the opening day against Forest, Wilson’s frustrating injury record makes him an unreliable option.

Without Wilson, things don’t look incredibly promising when looking at Newcastle’s striker options. Behind Wilson in the pecking order stands Chris Wood, who has scored just twice since making the move to St James’ Park in January, therefore making the former Burnley man arguably as much of a risk to play regularly.

It seems as though their attacking exploits depend on Wilson’s ability to stay fit this season. With a few weeks left of the transfer market, it remains to be seen whether Howe welcomes any more reinforcements to a side which looked more than ready to cause a few upsets in the Premier League this season, but it is surely promising that someone impartial like Thomlinson believes the Toon already have enough to make great strides in the year ahead.

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