Newcastle United are under pressure ahead of the return of club football later this week.
While Newcastle United performed well against both Aston Villa and Liverpool in testing circumstances, they laboured to a disappointing draw at Leeds just before the international break.
It means Eddie Howe’s side have only two points from their opening three games and are already some way off those competing for the top five in the Premier League.
Newcastle are offered a favourable first game back when Wolves come to St James’ Park on Saturday. Vitor Pereira’s side have lost all three of their games thus far, so will not be arriving on Tyneside in good form.
Still, they are not to be overlooked, and Eddie Howe needs his players to hit the ground running.
With that in mind, Geordie Boot Boys looks at three players who need to convince instantly.
Yoane Wissa poses for photographs after signing for Newcastle United.
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Yoane Wissa
It may seem harsh to include Yoane Wissa in this list. He arrived on deadline day and went away on international duty with DR Congo, so will hardly have much time to train with his new teammates before making his debut.
Wissa hasn’t played a Premier League game since the end of last season, too. Still, the forward is much more experienced than Nick Woltemade and needs to lean on that while the German develops.
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Of the two new signings, it’s much more reasonable to expect Wissa to adapt quickly. Clearly, it’s not an ideal situation, but Newcastle don’t have time to wait for both of their new forwards to click.
Anthony Elanga in action for Newcastle United against Liverpool.
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Anthony Elanga
Again, it’s important not to judge Anthony Elanga too quickly. He’s only had a few games with his teammates and has not had a conventional striker to play off thus far.
However, Newcastle paid £52million for Elanga for a reason. They clearly rate him highly but the Sweden international hasn’t shown all too much in his first three appearances.
That’s not a huge criticism of the player. It hasn’t been easy for the team as a whole and Elanga certainly isn’t the only forward to have struggled.
However, he was dropped from the starting lineup against Leeds as Howe looked to change the shape.
That isn’t a great reflection on how the attacking unit has started this season, even if the Alexander Isak saga and the fact a new striker wasn’t through the door until late on has made life difficult for them.
At some point, Newcastle need to see Elanga kick on.
Harvey Barnes playing for Newcastle United against Liverpool.
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Harvey Barnes
Harvey Barnes is another who has struggled. Unlike Elanga, he doesn’t have the excuse of only just arriving at the club.
Barnes was brilliant in the Carabao Cup final and was playing well enough to keep Anthony Gordon out of the team but has not started this season well at all.
With Isak leaving and Wissa and Woltemade only just through the door, Newcastle need the former Leicester man to step up.
He scored nine Premier League goals last season but hasn’t looked close to doing so this time around.
Given Gordon’s suspension for the next two games, it’s time for Barnes to step up as the senior man in the Newcastle attack.