Newcastle United have endured a miserable pre-season so far with no wins on the board and transfer uncertainty
Newcastle United owner Yasir Al-Rumayyan and, inset, boss Eddie Howe
Newcastle United owner Yasir Al-Rumayyan and, inset, boss Eddie Howe
Newcastle United's head of recruitment Steve Nickson was an interested spectator in the director's box during the 2-2 draw with Espanyol last night.
Nickson's presence, at a time when Newcastle need reinforcements, was telling with the talent spotter having done everything he can this summer to put a long list of options in front of the manager Eddie Howe.
If last night was a thorough and late assessment to see where those potential new signings will fit in Howe's XI, it would not have taken a rocket scientist to see how much of a void has been left by Alexander Isak.
Isak has not even gone yet but anybody watching last night could see that the lack of back-up for the Sweden international is glaringly obvious.
William Osula never looked like getting on the act and served up another blank in pre-season while Sean Neave has been pushed into the first-team in recent months and is still learning; and even then the service was poor to the young forward.
Two other empty seats in the director's box displayed Newcastle are still without a sporting director and a CEO with Paul Mitchell leaving in May and still not replaced.
That is not helping matters right now and the lack of signings is becoming a major concern with the new season a week away.
The last time Howe faced the media at St James' Park in May after the defeat to Everton, he asked for "speed" with new arrivals. Since then he's witnessed only the signing of a £55m winger in Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale on loan.
Throw in the Isak situation, and Newcastle look ill-equipped to kick off a new campaign in the Premier League and Champions League.
Eddie Howe relays PIF message
At one stage last night Howe was asked by a journalist whether the club's main Saudi backers were still interested in the project at St James' Park.
At first glance, there is plenty of evidence that they are with refurbishments taking place around the stadium during the summer.
Areas of the Press room have been improved and it is expected that the cheese board working benches (recycled cheese boards from the catering area used as work stations in the press room) are soon to be replaced ahead of the Champions League campaign.
Corporate staff were also wearing new suits ahead of the new season but on the transfer front, Howe remains convinced that PIF will provide him with all the backing needed.
When asked if the owners were engaged, Howe said: "No, the owners are very much engaged, as much as they always have been.
"There's a lot going on at the football club behind the scenes to take the club forward, whether that's stadium-related, training ground-related.
"Unfortunately, these things do take time, and there's no quick decision-making process that can fast-forward things any quicker than they take.
"Obviously, I'm not in control of any of the details of that, but I am part of Board meetings and [there's] a lot of talk about the future. They are very much here and desperate for success and to take the club forward.
"This has been a challenging period where there'll be a lot of different opinions on different subjects, but I can assure everybody connected with Newcastle that the owners are very much behind the project and fighting every day for the club."
The big Alexander Isak question
There was no sign of Alexander Isak last night but Eddie Howe confirmed that the Sweden striker was fully fit.
So will he be involved in the coming days or not? With no bid from Liverpool, surely he should be in the squad and earn his money?
When asked if Isak will face Aston Villa, Howe said last night: "I'd want Alex to be playing today, I'd want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us – let me make that abslutely clear. There's no part of me that doesn't want that outcome.
"But I don't see that changing before Aston Villa, the current situation we're in."
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