The January transfer window will offer Newcastle the chance to strengthen their squad
Newcastle United Sporting Director Ross Wilson (L)
Newcastle United Sporting Director Ross Wilson (L)(Image: 2025 Newcastle United)
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Newcastle United won't strengthen in the January transfer window because their squad doesn't lack 'in any areas'.
That is the verdict of former United goalkeeper Shay Given, who feels Eddie Howe won't be thinking about January when it comes to improving the Magpies' fortunes this season.
It has been a season with a a strange undertone so far. Newcastle have been excellent at home and have won their last five successive matches at St James' Park.
They have won seven of their last 10 matches across all competitions, too, but the three defeats in that sequence have come in the Premier League.
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As a result, Newcastle are sixth in the Champions League table, in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup but are currently 13th in the Premier League table.
The Magpies recruited well in the summer, though, with Nick Woltemade, Aaron Ramsdale, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw and Yoane Wissa all joining the club.
Wissa is yet to make his debut for the Magpies and Given feels his comeback from injury will be a big boost for Newcastle and should dampen any talk of needing to dip into the January transfer market.
"I don't think they will. I could be wrong, but I don't see the squad lacking in any areas," Given told 10bet.
"Wissa is still to come back from his injury. It’s just a shame he signed, then got injured on international duty because he would have been a handy option against West Ham.
"He could have come on, or it could have allowed them to rest Woltemade for midweek. So I think once Wissa gets up to speed and gets match fit, then that forward area is pretty strong."When you think of the wingers they have, they've got four or five guys who could probably start on the wings. Then having the two strikers, I don't think there's any real weakness in the squad.
"I don't think that you can just wait for January to try and push the team forward. I think it comes from within the group, the players and the staff they have already."
Former Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given
Former Newcastle goalkeeper, Shay Given
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While Newcastle's home form has been excellent this season, their away form has left a lot to be desired. The Magpies are yet to taste victory away from St James' Park in the Premier League and that is something Given insists they have to rectify - starting with Sunday's trip to Brentford.
"It wasn’t a good performance last weekend if we’re being honest, and Newcastle need to start picking more points up on the road, starting at Brentford," Given added.
"Brentford have always been a team that they struggled with as well, actually. So it will be a difficult game for them."It's something that Eddie Howe and his staff will be looking to rectify as soon as possible, because I think they recruited really well in the summer and I think they've got a squad now that should challenge for the top four, top five, top six every single season."For a team that has ambitions to get back in the Champions League, through the Premier League, they will need to improve away from home."They're so difficult to beat at home and so difficult to play against. They have to try and bring that away from home."
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