The latest Newcastle United news and opinion as Eddie Howe continues preparations for the Premier League with some players away on international duty
Eddie Howe
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has a number of important decisions to make in the coming weeks
Finally the summer transfer window has closed and all of Newcastle United's focus can now be on matters on the pitch. There's no denying that the Alexander Isak transfer saga brought unwanted strain to Eddie Howe's pre-season preparations and the Toon boss will be glad that chapter has come to an end.
The Magpies were able to bring in Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club-record fee, while Yoane Wissa joined on deadline day to soften the blow of the Swedish striker moving to Liverpool. Now, though, Newcastle will have to bed in both strikers over the coming weeks.
Howe's men have taken just two points from their opening three games of the season, with draws against Aston Villa and Leeds United - while the decisive goal in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at St. James' Park came in the dying embers of the game. Performances have been decent enough, albeit without that end product that an out-and-out striker would have delivered in those games.
The international break will give Howe some time to reset and work with the group of players who have not been called up to represent their respective countries while those who have can continue to build their early season fitness.
When they return to Premier League action later this month, there's a clash with Wolves awaiting at St. James' Park before the small matter of welcoming Barcelona to Tyneside in the Champions League.
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With that in mind, ChronicleLive has taken a look at what we would do if we were managing Newcastle in the coming weeks:
Eddie Howe's first dilemma
Having spent a club-record fee on the aforementioned Waltemade, there'll understandably be a clamour to see him play and pull on the black and white shirt at St. James' Park. However, if we've learnt anything from Howe's tenure, it's that the German international will be given time to adapt to his new surroundings before being unleashed.
The 23-year-old started for his country in their 2-0 defeat to Slovakia on Thursday night, with the German press unhappy with his display. Nontheless, Magpies' fans should read little into that with international football a far cry away from domestic action.
Having watched the former Stuttgart striker in action at the U21s European Championship, there's a real player in there and you'd back the Newcastle boss to transform him into one of Europe, if not the world's best strikers - just as he did with Isak.
However, there's also the arrival of Wissa from Brentford to think about. Who will Howe start up front against Wolves? It's fair to say that the DR Congo international is more of a plug in and play arrival, having shone for the Bees in the Premier League in recent seasons.
You'd expect the 29-year-old to get the nod against Wolves on September 13 and with 19 goals in the top flight last season, fingers crossed he's the man to get Newcastle firing.
Barcelona and the bright lights of St. James' Park
Hansi Flick's Barcelona were one of the most feared teams in the Champions League in last season's instalment of the competition and will be among the favourites again this season. Wonderkid Lamine Yamal is being tipped to become the best player in the world and Newcastle know they'll have to rise to the occasion.
And there's no reason why they can't. After all, Tino Asprilla's perfect hat-trick at St. James' Park still lives long in the memory of the black and white faithful and they'll be hoping for another memorable night under the lights.
Faustino Asprilla scores for Newcastle against Barcelona
Faustino Asprilla scored a hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona in the Champions League at St James' Park in 1997
While the Magpies will be wary of the threat of the La Liga side, the Catalan club should also head to Tyneside aware of just how much damage Howe's side can do. The demolition job on PSG in the last Champions League campaign should serve as a real warning for Barca.
Kylian Mbappe and the star studded PSG side crumbled at St. James' Park, unable to deal with the press, the atmosphere and the occasion. It'll be a similar vociferous atmosphere come Thursday, September 18.
The current crop of Newcastle players can send a real statement to the rest of the competition early doors with a good performance against some of the world's best. That's the beauty of the Champions League.
Rotation, rotation, rotation
Howe tends to name quite a settled starting XI throughout the season, but with the Champions League adding to an already busy fixture schedule the Toon boss knows he'll need to utilise his full squad.
The reluctance to rotate too much from one competition to the next may have been due to the drop in quality outside of the starting XI last season. However, with Malick Thiaw and Aaron Ramsdale - to name just two - yet to start for the Toon, there's a plethora of options for Howe to tinker with.
Jacob Ramsey is another really exciting addition who has impressed with Aston Villa, while Jacob Murphy can provide goals and assists as understudy to Anthony Elanga. It's an exciting time for the Toon.
January transfers
Newcastle appeared to have strengthened all the key areas they needed to in the summer transfer window with a new right-winger, central midfielder, goalkeeper and centre-back in the run up to this campaign.
Signing both Wissa and Woltemade should alleviate any short-term need for quality up front, but there's the Isak situation to resolve. It'll be interesting to see how that void is filled in the coming weeks and months.
Will Woltemade be that man? Or will Wissa outshine his fellow new signing?
Once this is clear, Newcastle will have the funds to strengthen their ranks in the January transfer window if needed, though it's worth remembering just how tough tansfer business can be in the middle of a campaign.
Having missed out on Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and Joao Pedro, Newcastle should use the next few months to unearth 'Alexander Isak 2.0' and get ahead of the competition.
Wolves chairman Jeff Shi has already made it clear Jorgen Strand Larsen won't leave the Premier League club this season, likely taking that deal off the table if the Magpies were short of goals and looking to revisit a January move.
You'd expect Newcastle to move onto other targets in the winter.
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