Eddie Howe was left frusrated by the goalless draw with Leeds United on Saturday night
Football content editor for Chronicle Live, Sunderland Live, Gazette Live, Leeds Live, Yorkshire Live and Hull Live. A North East native, he has been working in sports journalism since 1995. Stuart has worked on the Sunday Sun, Chronicle and the Journal since move from the Gateshead Post in 1999.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe was frustrated at Leeds
Whatever happens between now and 7pm on Monday night, Eddie Howe simply has to have more attacking options available to him when Wolverhampton Wanderers arrive at St James' Park in a fortnight.
The Newcastle United head coach was left frustrated by his side's lack of a cutting edge in the goalless draw with Leeds United on Saturday evening, as his side drew another blank. They could be still playing now and have not threatened Lucas Perri in the home goal.
The reasons for Newcastle's blunted edge are well documented, and no blame should fall at Howe's door. It's inconcievable to think having Alexander Isak in that side would not have made a major difference to the outcome.
Alas, the Swede was elsewhere, no doubt staying dry.
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Anthony Gordon, while not a replacement for Isak, was a big miss after his poorly-judged tackle on Virgil van Dijk on Monday night earned him a red card and a three-match ban.
And Howe's frustrations were no doubt shared by new £65m signing Nick Woltemade, who could only watch on from the Elland Road stands as a toothless Newcastle failed to ask questions of a Leeds side that shipped five at Arsenal seven days earlier.
You imagine everyone involved with Newcastle has everythng crossed that the striker comes through his involvement with the German national side in the next fortnight with no injury setbacks.
Woltemade will be a huge addition to the squad, not only against Wolves, but for the weeks, months and hopefully years to follow.
But he can't be the only new face before Monday's transfer deadline. With rotation the key word this season, Newcastle have to add more strikers to Howe's arsenal if they are to have any chance of competing on multiple fronts.
Jorgen Strand Larsen was notable by his absence from the Wolves squad in their 3-2 defeat to Everton on Saturday, and taks are said to continue over a deal to bring the Norwegian to Tyneside.
His arrival - or that of Brentford's Yoane Wissa - feels vital. While Will Osula put the yards in at Elland Road, his lack of experence was clear to see in key situations.
United have spent big on creative players in recent years, but it's no use Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes or Jacob Murphy fashioning chances if there's no one to take them.
Osula is a good third choice, but at this stage, that's all.
Newcastle had no pivot to the spearhead the attack, no one dropping deep to create space for the wide men to exploit behind, with an almost reluctance to use the Denmark U21 international in the build up.
Woltemade is a major step forward, but can't be the last. If Isak is not to return to the squad - and that's a situation Newcastle may yet have to face - then the challenge remains clear before the window closes.
And the clock is ticking.