My only two concerns from Newcastle 2-0 Forest – Weak links to work on?

Now, before you call us negative, we have already posted our piece covering all the positives from Sunday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

I loved what I saw from Nick Woltemade, our superb centre-back pairing and captain fantastic Bruno Guimaraes, but there are a few concerns I have coming out of the game and into the international break, which we cover below:

Didn’t Like: Lack of depth at full-back

The most shocking thing about Sunday for me was when the team sheet dropped at 12:45 and Lewis Hall wasn’t even in the squad. This prompted lots of speculation as to the reason for his absence, but it was later confirmed by Eddie Howe that the youngster has a hamstring injury and is likely to be a medium-term absentee.

Whilst it had no effect on the game (although Dan Burn was caught out a few times at LB), it’s a huge blow to our squad, especially with Tino Livramento already ruled out for up to eight weeks. The full-back positions suddenly look very light with just Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth as natural fullbacks.

Trippier is a stalwart and despite being 35 will continue to provide quality from set pieces and will bring his captaincy qualities to the side, even if his pace is virtually gone. Krafth is a strange one; why give him a new contract if he isn’t going to play when United are this barebones at fullback? Conventional wisdom would suggest that Krafth at RB and Trippier at LB would offer us better attacking balance down the flanks, but for whatever reason, Howe just doesn’t seem to fancy the Swede, despite him never letting anyone down when he does play.

Gutted for Lewis Hall, but with an international break imminent, hopefully, he can make his return alongside Tino not long after the next break in November, and maybe will see youngsters like Leo Shahar get a chance in the squad.

Didn’t Like: Big Joe and his lack of technical quality

Criticising Big Joe, with his epic Newcastle redemption arc (and another call-up to the Brazilian national side), feels like stabbing a best friend in the back at times, but he must find a way to contribute in games against sides who come to SJP and sit in a low block. He had a headed chance midway through the first half that he just couldn’t quite squeeze in at the near post, but aside from some poorly timed tackles, he wasn’t really in the game.

Joelinton is a man for games against ‘bigger’ opponents who will want more of the ball with their technical players and won’t like the physicality. He will certainly be able to impose himself in Europe against those sorts of teams from leagues where the game is more technical but of a lower standard like Benfica. But he just doesn’t offer much in games like Sunday.

Jacob Ramsey may well be an answer to these sorts of questions (and I still think Lewis Miley should be getting more minutes in games like these too), but the former Villa man needs to get himself fit and stay fit, as he was another who was, surprisingly, earmarked to return for this game but couldn’t quite make it.