Newcastle United and manager Eddie Howe have just under a week to add to their squad before the summer transfer window closes.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (right) on the pitch.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe (right) on the pitch.
It's been a difficult summer transfer window for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe to navigate, despite the club bringing an end to their long wait for silverware and qualifying for the Champions League, once again.
Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey and Malick Thiaw have all joined the club this summer, although focus still remains on bringing in a new striker, or maybe two. It's on that front where the Magpies have struggled the most.
Add in Alexander Isak's ongoing desire to leave the club, before the deadline on September 1, and it's been pretty disastrous in that area of the pitch. The Magpies have missed out on Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko, while they've also had bids rejected for Yoane Wissa and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Those latter two have been touted as replacements for Callum Wilson, who left the club as a free agent and subsequently joined West Ham United. Anthony Gordon has led the line for the Magpies in their opening two Premier League fixtures, but his red card against Liverpool means he'll miss the next three games.
Will Osula did come off their subs bench to grab a leveller against the Reds, but the young Danish striker is viewed by some as being not quite at the level required to lead the line week in, week out. There can be no time wasted in bringing in a new man to lead the line, with game-time guaranteed regardless of what happens with Isak.
Aside from Gordon - who looked really bright against Liverpool - Howe does have another alternative to lead the line in their current set-up. That option is Joelinton, who arrived for £40million as a striker back in 2019 - though his current injury will also impact whether the Magpies head coach can call upon the Brazilian up front.
Speaking after full-time against Liverpool, Howe said: "They're genuine injuries. They've come off in the middle of the game and that would be a huge blow to us. Joey doesn't look great, to be honest, especially when the signal was so early when he went down.
"Sandro [Tonali], again, he doesn't look good. He wanted to stay on but wasn't functioning properly. Obviously, we lose Anthony through suspension and Fabian [Schar] through concussion."
Joelinton goes down injured during Newcastle United's clash with Liverpool.
Joelinton goes down injured during Newcastle United's clash with Liverpool.
Joelinton was in some distress as he left the pitch - and the club will be waiting for an injury update with bated breath. There's no denying that the Brazilian has transformed himself from struggling striker into one of the best midfielders in the division - despite being played as a striker for the early part of his Magpies' career.
There may be an interest to see how he now fares up front, given how much he's come on under Howe's tutorage, but that can't mask the need to bring in a new striker. Joelinton has also played well off the left and that's an option that should be considered before utilising the Brazilian up front.
We've seen from his absence last season, that Newcastle lose the brilliant physicality in their midfield engine room when Joelinton is out of their starting XI. They can't afford to do that by trying him up front in Gordon's absence - if his injury is not as bad as first feared.
There are plenty hypotheticals that need to come to fruition before Joelinton should be considered as an option as a striker, and until then, Howe will stick with what works best. Square pegs in square holes, even if that means giving Osula a run in the side.
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