Matthias Jaissle watches on during Newcastle United's friendly defeat to Everton (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Matthias Jaissle watches on during Newcastle United's friendly defeat to Everton (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
MATTHIAS JAISSLE has strongly reasserted the need for new signings at Newcastle United – and admitted his side will “not be at their peak” for the season-opening home game against Liverpool.
Newcastle’s new head coach suffered his first defeat in charge when the Magpies suffered a 3-1 friendly loss to Everton at Murrayfield.
Thierno Barry, Iliman Ndiaye and Tyrique George scored for David Moyes’ side in Edinburgh, and while Harvey Barnes scored a late consolation, converting Jacob Murphy’s cross, Newcastle faded badly after a reasonably bright start.
Major weaknesses within the squad were glaringly apparent, with Leo Shahar and Mason Miley sharing right-back duties in the absence of the injured Tino Livramento and the Magpies also looking short of options in midfield as Jaissle opted to make ten outfield changes at half-time.
Newcastle are trying to make progress on multiple transfer fronts – talks with Benfica over right-back Amar Dedic are understood to be at a reasonably advanced stage – with Jaissle fully aware of the need to strengthen the squad significantly in the final two-and-a-half weeks of the window.
“We have already spoken about it in the press conference, and I think everybody has seen the matches and are smart enough to see the needs in the squad,” said the Newcastle boss. “I will always be consistent with my approach - we handle these things internally. We are aware of what we need, and as you know, there is still some time.
“It is not a case of just wishing for things to happen and then they happen – that is not the case in football or in life. But internally, we are really clear.”
When asked whether any incoming deals might be completed ahead of this weekend’s friendly double-header against Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg, Jaissle added: “There could be because there are still a couple of days to go, but it’s not in my hands.”
Even if new players arrive in the next few days, they will have very little time to bed in before Newcastle host Liverpool in their opening Premier League fixture on August 23.
The Visit Malta Weekender means Jaissle will have very little time on the training pitch before Andoni Iraola brings his new-look Liverpool side to Tyneside, with the Magpies boss conceding there is no realistic chance of his side being up to full speed for the start of the new season.
“For sure, we cannot be at our peak [against Liverpool], this is clear,” he said. “We have just been working for a couple of days together, and Liverpool is already next week now.
“We use every day in the best possible way, that’s the only thing we can control to make progress. Then, it will be the same with the transfer market. Hopefully, there will be progress there too.”