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Bereft of form, confidence and goals: Why Newcastle United's summer signings need to start firing
Newcastle United are struggling for goals as they prepare for their Champions League home clash with PSV Eindhoven.
Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa cost over £100million in the summer but seem to have lost their shooting boots and Anthony Elanga has also flattered to deceive.
Here, DAZN News reporter Ross Heppenstall analyses the Magpies’ misfiring forwards ahead of PSV’s visit to Tyneside on Wednesday night.
A summer of upheaval at St James’ Park
Tumultuous probably describes life at Newcastle during an off-season, which saw Alexander Isak agitate for a move away.
The Magpies tried to stand their ground by saying the Swede was not for sale, but eventually, and predictably, the move to Liverpool went through.
Isak joined the Reds in a £125million British record transfer to end a saga which left a bitter taste in Geordie mouths.
Toon boss Eddie Howe signed Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club-record £69million fee and Wissa arrived from Brentford for a cool £55million.
Elanga joined from Nottingham Forest in a £55million switch to further bolster the Magpies’ attacking options.
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A transfer that drew derision in Germany
Woltemade £69million move to Newcastle saw them branded them “idiots” by German icon Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Bayern Munich board member and legendary ex-player Rummenigge made the vicious jibe after Woltemade opted to move to St James’ Park.
But his barbed comment was made to look foolish when Woltemade scored the winner on his debut in a 1-0 home victory over Wolves.
He went on a run of scoring in four successive games and is currently on nine goals since joining Newcastle.
Nevertheless, the jury is out on a player whose embarrassing own-goal handed sworn enemies Sunderland victory in the Tyne-Wear derby on December 14.
Woltemade’s impressive early-season form has faded in recent weeks.
Sunday’s goalless draw with Wolves was his seventh consecutive game without scoring and was replaced late on at Wolves, having managed just 13 touches.
Woltemade has scored three goals in his last 19 games.
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Wissa yet to find full fitness and top form
The £55million signing from Brentford sustained a posterior cruciate ligament injury on international duty with DR Congo just days after joining Newcastle.
That cruel setback saw him miss much of the first half of the season before finally making his debut as a substitute in the 2-1 home win over Burnley on December 6.
He has since scored a couple of goals, but was on the bench at Molineux on Sunday and made no real impact when he came on.
It was clear that Wissa is still waiting to hit top gear in a Newcastle United jersey.
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Elanga another player yet to deliver
The Sweden international has yet to score since joining Newcastle this summer and Howe last week admitted the winger’s form was a cause for concern.
While Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes have made some big contributions this season, Elanga has not.
Magpies boss Howe said: “My biggest wish is that he plays in an environment where he feels safe and free to express himself. There is no denying his ability.
“He’s a unique player. He needs time to reach his best form, but I’m confident he will get there.
“Let’s love and enjoy the players we have and help them find their best form. Let’s bring love to all our players.”
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Can Newcastle afford to bring in a striking reinforcement?
Howe cast doubt on whether there were funds available to bolster a frontline in need of new faces this month.
With the likes of Woltemade, Wissa and Elanga struggling for form, and winger Jacob Murphy sidelined with a hamstring problem, Howe was asked after Sunday’s stalemate at Molineux if he expected incomings this month.
The Toon boss replied: “I don’t think we have the financial ability to do that.
“We needed to do more in attack. There were a couple of good moments, but not enough.”
With Newcastle fighting on four fronts in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League, Howe will be desperately hoping his faltering frontline can reignite.
Full Champions League fixture list for Matchday 7
Tuesday, 20 January
- Kairat Almaty vs. Club Brugge
- Bodo/Glimt vs. Manchester City
- Copenhagen vs. Napoli
- Inter vs. Arsenal
- Olympiakos vs. Bayer Leverkusen
- Real Madrid vs. Monaco
- Sporting vs. PSG
- Tottenham vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Villarreal vs. Ajax
Wednesday, 21 January
- Galatasaray vs. Atletico Madrid
- Qarabag vs. Eintracht Frankfurt
- Atalanta vs. Athletic Club
- Bayern Munich vs. Union Saint-Gilloise
- Chelsea vs. Pafos
- Juventus vs. Benfica
- Marseille vs. Liverpool
- Newcastle United vs. PSV
- Slavia Prague vs. Barcelona
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