Eddie Howe fears Newcastle are at risk of going ‘STALE’ without fresh additions to his squad… but admits financial restrictions could limit the club’s transfer plans in January

Eddie Howe has warned that his Newcastle squad are in danger of going stale if there is not fresh investment.

Two transfer windows have passed without the starting XI being improved, allied to the sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh and key players such as Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson growing older and featuring less.

The word coming out of St James’ Park is that January dealings will be limited by PSR, but it is clear the group needs help, especially in forward areas. They did not register a single shot on goal during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.

And ahead of Wednesday’s visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool, Howe was asked if a new face is needed to lift himself and his players.

‘I think there is a desire from everyone at the club to deliver that,’ he said. ‘I think freshness is important in a squad, I won’t sit here and deny that. There needs to be a certain element of trading in and out to keep the group dynamic new. 

‘A new dynamic and a new team always has to form every season. Sometimes, the same squad can produce a staleness and a negative product. So, I think we’re aware of that. But it’s about what we’re able to do rather than, “I want”. “I want” is clear. It’s what we’re able to do that is the key thing.

Two transfer windows have passed without the starting XI being improved, allied to the sales of Elliot Anderson (pictured above on the right) and Yankuba Minteh

Plus key players such as Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson are growing older and featuring less

‘You have to go to the realities of what is possible. You have to make decisions for the here and now, but also for the future. We have to make sure we don’t put ourselves in a position where the summer becomes very, very difficult to do what we need to do, or future windows beyond.’

Howe’s use of the word ‘stale’ felt telling, and he added: ‘We haven’t had a huge turnover of players and that’s a slight concern. But if you bring too many players in, that can have a negative impact in terms of upheaval of the team and relationships not forming.

’You can keep that staleness away in various ways. Innovation from us in terms of the team, training, team-building and different things to make sure the players are not coming into the same environment.’

How difficult have recent windows been?

‘Of course there was a want from us to do that (strengthen), especially in the summer, where we saw a couple of players that we felt could have made a difference but it didn’t happen. The other side is we lost – although we never had Yankuba Minteh – both him and Elliot (Anderson), two key players for us. So it’s not just the lack of incomings, it’s losing two talented young guys as well.

‘That goes with the territory and we just have to adapt and make the best of the situation, and I still believe in the squad we have. The squad we have is a very good squad and it is our job to do better with it.’