Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand, speaking on Sky Sports
Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand, speaking on Sky Sports
Newcastle United must strengthen their squad this summer if they have ambitions of challenging the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool for Premier League honours - according the man who came so close to firing them to the title in 1996. Les Ferdinand was a key part of Kevin Keegan's Entertainers side who stormed to the top of the table, only to see Manchester United reel them in and deny the Magpies glory.
Ferdinand was a keen observer on Sunday as Eddie Howe's side had the chance to move ahead of Arsenal into second place with a win at the Emirates, only for Mikel Arteta's side to grab a 1-0 victory. It means Newcastle must win their home game with Everton on the final day of the season to ensure a Champions League spot, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester CIty and Nottingham Forest all breathing down their necks.
United are expected to be able to spend in the summer transfer window, but the money Champions League games bring could loosen the purse strings a little more, and Ferdinand feels the squad must be stronger for the challenges ahead. Newcastle were without the injured Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier, but 'Sir Les' pointed to the benches as a key difference
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former United No 9 said: “The fact that they had two goalkeepers on the bench just to fill up the spaces tells you that they’re lacking in that bit of quality to really push on and be challenging at the top of this division.”
It was a point fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp agreed with, adding: “They fizzled out. In the second half, when you see Saliba coming off and Calafiori and Kiwior are the two centre-backs, I thought this was a big opportunity for Newcastle. But they lost that intensity and momentum. Arsenal, a bit like last week at Liverpool where they struggled first-half and then found the ascendancy in the second, they looked the better team. I just didn’t feel like they had enough belief or enough quality.
“What it also showed you is that when they brought on the subs, there wasn’t the back-up that you would normally like. That might be an area where Eddie will be looking at in the summer, just to thicken up the squad. Strengthen it so you have subs coming on because when you haven’t got Isak, it definitely leaves you a little bit short in that department.”
Newcastle host Everton on the final day at St James' Park and face a nervous wait over Isak's fitness. Trippier could return from a calf problem but Joelinton remains a doubt.