Alan Shearer has urged Newcastle United to improve the spine of their side in January, feeling we must target a centre-back, a creative midfielder and a striker to take the burden away from Callum Wilson.
The former NUFC number nine is adamant we’ll busy in the market this window, knowing there’s ‘money to spend’ and the need to bring inject some new life into a side hurtling towards relegation if nothing changes.
He feels we must target ‘solid and committed’ players who are ‘prepared to give everything’, believing there’ll be plenty who are ‘desperate’ to come to Newcastle and prove themselves – even if we are second bottom and at risk of going down.
Speaking on CBS podcast, ¡Qué Golazo!, here’s what he had to say when asked if he’s expecting us to be busy in the January transfer window:
“I expect some action – absolutely,”
“If that wasn’t to happen then NUFC would be in big trouble.
“The owners have said there is money to spend – but Newcastle fans, pundits and former players, we’re all going to have to be very patient because it’s not going to happen overnight, or a month, it’s going to take a long time – it’s going to be small steps.
“It’s going to be a certain type of player first and foremost to get Newcastle out of the relegation zone – then to entertain, players who are solid and committed to the football club and are prepared to give everything.
“There will be players who will be desperate to come to Newcastle United to prove themselves and to improve the squad because that is, without doubt, is what is needed.”
“We could do with players straight down the spine.
“They’ve been poor defensively – one of the worst defences so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out what they need, they need a defender or two.
“Certainly a creative midfielder, and without Callum Wilson, his career will tell you he will pick up injuries every now and then and won’t play every game, so they need another forward to put the ball in the back of the net to try and take the burden away from him for when he is and isn’t playing.
“So three players without a doubt – a centre-half, a creative midfielder and a forward to put the ball in the back of the net.”
An athletic centre-back with decent pace and confidence on the ball would be a huge bonus, while the amount of misplaced passes at Crystal Palace summed up our need for greater quality in midfield.
Another striker is also essential. We rely far too heavily on Callum Wilson and would be in huge trouble should he suffer another injury, with Dwight Gayle the only other out and out striker on our books at present.
James Tarkowski, Jesse Lingard and Divock Origi, anyone? All three are at risk of leaving for nothing next summer, so we may be able to strike cut-price deals for all three – providing fellow Premier League clubs are happy to do business with us!
Elliott Dickman to be appointed as U 23’s coach?
I would have the thought a coach for the first team is a more urgent, with an essential change of mentality and tactics required, most coaches need a period of time to implement a change and unfortunately time is not on our side!
Joseph(Quote)
Dwight who ?he should be the 1st to go in January gives another space in the team even though we don’t need the money would get some money for him and when was the last time he played 90 minutes and scored
Ian(Quote)
Alan has been reading my posts, that’s exactly what I’ve been saying since the takeover was announced that we need the spine of the team sorted.
Tarkowski is definitely an upgrade at centre back, I’d take Cantwell rather than Lingard and Origi not to sure about, maybe have a look at Maupay at Brighton in terms of achievable targets in January?
David(Quote)