Newcastle United created plenty of chances away to Aston Villa and Leeds but could not find the net - Eddie Howe has been taking a close look at finishing in the international break
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe speaks with Anthony Gordon
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe speaks with Anthony Gordon
(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has spoken about a new problem that he has never encountered since taking over as head coach four years ago.
And one he insists that the Magpies have been working on tirelessly to resolve over the international break, as preparations for the home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers are now cranked up.
Despite odd runs of patchy form for Howe, the black and whites have not cropped up in too many drought-type statistics during his tenure. And while Newcastle did go 470 minutes without a strike in open play last term, ended when Alexander Isak netted in a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, the goals began to flow again moving into the winter period.
Not helped by Isak's refusal to play and earn his move to Liverpool, Howe has also been hamstrung by a long wait to sign new forwards Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade as well as Anthony Gordon's suspension.
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Newcastle did score twice against Liverpool but Howe himself highlighted a worrying trend after the 0-0 draw against Leeds two weeks ago.
It was the second time in two Premier League games that Newcastle had failed to score and the fourth time in five top-flight games stretching into last season.
Howe told reporters: "I don't think that is too obvious, any team would always miss their centre-forward.
"So I think we are in that bracket now. But of course we are missing Anthony Gordon as well, and Joelinton too, two huge players.
"I can't stand here and use that as an excuse because we still have very good players. But we still back ourselves to do more in the final third.
"So that is what we have to go away and work on, it has never been an issue for us scoring goals so we have to turn that around very quickly."
Newcastle scored 68 goals in total in the Premier League last season compared to 85 in the top-flight in 2023/24 while Howe's only other full season, 2022/23 resulted in 68 again on the way to the Champions League.
With Woltemade and Wissa now added to his attack, Howe will hope that his team can find new dimensions in front of goal.
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