Newcastle United can now bring on 'top-class' players from the bench because the Magpies have a 'huge talented squad' at their disposal.
That is the verdict of Nottingham Forest captain Joe Worrall after his side were on the receiving end of a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on the opening day. The scoreline certainly did not flatter the hosts at St James' Park.
Although Newcastle only scored two goals - Fabian Schar and Callum Wilson both got on the score sheet in the second half - this was the Magpies' most dominant Premier League display in years. Newcastle had 61% possession, 23 shots and 11 corners; Forest, in contrast, failed to even test goalkeeper Nick Pope on his debut.
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Ambitious Forest have made a dozen signings this summer, including former Newcastle target Jesse Lingard, but Saturday's defeat was a reminder of the challenge ahead for Worrall and co following the visitors' first top-flight fixture since 1999.
"It's Newcastle, who are the richest team in the world, and they've got a huge talented squad and like-for-like coming off the bench," the Forest captain told the club's in-house media channel.
"You look at [Callum] Wilson going off, [Chris] Wood coming on. [Ryan] Fraser for [Miguel] Almiron - it's like-for-like. They're all top-class players. It was going to be difficult."
Worrall's point about Newcastle being the 'richest team in the world' has been repeated by outsiders ever since the club's takeover was finally completed last year. However, it is not strictly true.
Yes, the wealth of Newcastle's owners dwarfs that of their counterparts at Man City or PSG, but the club cannot simply spend their way to the top because of the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations. Eddie Howe admitted last week that Newcastle have not got the 'free rein' to 'sign who we want and pay extortionate fees and wages' and the Magpies' boss does not believe the club will be in a position to do so for 'some period of time'.
That is why the focus at the top moving forward is on boosting revenues and agreeing new sponsorship deals so Newcastle can, in turn, spend more within the rules.
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