Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
Sport
Lee Clark

Eddie Howe will have to find a 'solution' to Newcastle's potential £128m 'dilemma'

The injuries from this international break are disappointing, but that's the risk you take when you're signing elite players. They are susceptible to getting injuries which aren't of your making, but you have to deal with it.

They will be big misses. It will be frustrating for the manager because there's a lot of excitement at having Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson available at the same time. Eddie Howe hasn't been able to have that yet, and Bruno Guimaraes in behind supplying the ammunition would be terrific.

The quality of the squad has been shown this season, players have come in and not weakened the team. This is just another opportunity for those players now, players that maybe haven't started games who will be looking to prove to Eddie they are ready for a run in the team.

TAKE PART IN OUR BIG TAKEOVER SURVEY: We want to hear your thoughts ahead of the NUFC takeover anniversary

You obviously have to try and do something a little bit different, because if Chris Wood is out too you haven't really got yourself a recognised number nine. You might have to do something a little bit different in terms of how you play at the top end of the pitch.

Do you play with a false nine which has come into play in the modern era? Two little number 10s who are playing deeper who don't go up against a centre-half. Or does he believe there's somebody with the youngsters who can play as a striker?

Does he bring Elliot Anderson into the fold? There's other possibilities, it's all about having that flexibility. Sometimes you get tested in ways you don't want to, but you can come up with answers with the players you have.

I wouldn't put Joelinton back up there. I wouldn't let anything affect his performances now, he's turned into a sensational powerhouse of a central midfielder.

I wouldn't get him back into that position where his form was indifferent at best. We don't need to knock his confidence, he needs to keep doing what he's doing where he is.

I think there's other possibilities in the squad in terms of attacking players for what he could do there. I certainly wouldn't be looking at Joelinton going back into the striking role for different reasons.

You've got Miguel Almiron, you've got Jacob Murphy. You just have to come up with a solution with attacking midfielders who can play a little further forward without them playing the out and out number nine.

If they're all out, he's going to have to do something a bit different. He's probably going to have to play a couple of square pegs in round holes, put them in into positions which aren't ideal.

But can they for one game maximum, maybe two at a push, play that role and help the team get the result? It is a dilemma, we were talking about our strength in depth a couple of weeks ago and now you come back from a international break which sounds a bit of a disaster in terms of injuries.

Eddie could say he wants an out and out number nine and go to the under-21s to bring someone in. Me personally. I've always been one for that to give lads a chance.

It might come sooner than they think, but sometimes needs must. Until you give these young players a chance, you don't know how they might react.

The young lads have got to be ready, if they get the opportunity to train with the first-team, can they impress and get into that starting eleven? A couple of injuries and suspensions can open doors for other people, and that goes for the young players at the club as well.

With every game that passes since the win on the opening day, it does get a bit trickier and a bit more must-win. But we have to remember it was 14 games last season before the first victory.

We have to take everything into context, we have to take in the performance level, the consistency. They certainly deserve more than the one win they have on the board right now. They just have to keep believing, not get desperate and keep trying to churn out consistent performances.

I think it'll be a different game at Fulham. I think they'll come at Newcastle, it won't be like the last couple of home games against Palace and Bournemouth.

They came and sat deep in the low block, and I think Fulham will play at a high tempo and try and get at Newcastle. There will be opportunities to hit them on the break and cause them problems. It'll be a different type of game completely.

READ NEXT

'Badly wanted to stay' - Goal machine 'sad' to leave Newcastle as £22m transfer truth is told

Celtic playmaker makes Newcastle United transfer claim after being scouted during international break

Newcastle United to get first refusal on South American talent as Nobby Solano opens his own Academy

Newcastle United's impressive new look Benton training ground taking shape at a 'rapid rate'

Yasir Al-Rumayyan explains global PIF strategy change that paved way for Newcastle takeover

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.