'Good things come to those who wait' – Newcastle United takeover silence & injuries discussed by our Magpies writers

They’re dropping like flies at Benton with the likes of Dwight Gayle and Martin Dubravka knocks overshadowing the signing of Republic of Ireland international Jeff Hendrick and Andy Carroll’s return to the goals.

Here our writers Miles Starforth and Liam Kennedy discusses the Toon Trending Topics of pre-season so far.

How big a blow is Martin Dubravka's injury – and will that force a change in transfer plans?

LK: “Dubravka was Newcastle United's player of the season last year – and he deserved it. That means Steve Bruce is heading into the new season without arguably his best player, as well as his top-scoring centre forward of 2019/20. It's a real worry. But what I would say is that United have a more than able deputy in Karl Darlow. He’s not someone you’d want to have between the sticks for the full season – that’s Dubravka’s gig – but Darlow can cover in the short-term.”

MS: “It’s not looking good. Dubravka, a Premier League ever-present since February 2018, will be out until at least October. Dubravka has been outstanding for United, and it’s unquestionably a big blow given his influence on the pitch, but Karl Darlow has previously proved himself to be a very capable goalkeeper. I’m not sure it’ll force a change in transfer plans given that Darlow will be backed up by Mark Gillespie, with Freddie Woodman out on loan. That said, if Steve Bruce lost another goalkeeper to injury – or Dubravka was out for an even longer period – the club is able to sign players up to October 5, so there’s no panic on that front.”

Dwight Gayle's injury is another blow – will NUFC now look to add TWO strikers this window?

LK: “I think with such a small budget, if United can secure at least one striker between now and October, a decent one, they’ll have done well. I really worry for that department this season. Goals were an issue last year and even with Andy Carroll back amongst it, United can’t rely on him to stay fit for a month or two never mind six.”

MS: “Good question. Newcastle look very light on numbers up front, and the team was short of goals for much of last season, and there’s a strong case for signing an experienced striker in the wake of Gayle’s injury plus another as Yoshinori Muto’s replacement, assuming he is sold this summer after two disappointing seasons on Tyneside. This position must be the priority for Newcastle.”

Are Newcastle working on any others deals? And if so, what positions?

LK: “Newcastle need a striker and something else – whether that be a winger or a No10/attacking midfielder – before the window closes. Problem is, everyone is searching for that bit of something special in the final third. Half the Premier League are being linked with the same players, competition is fierce. And as previously mentioned United have one hand tied behind their back re the budget. A left-back is a must and to be honest I think United are very weak on the right, too.”

MS: “We know Bruce wants to sign a left-back following the departure of loanee Danny Rose, and PAOK’s Dimitris Giannoulis – who can also play out wide – is a target. The club has also been linked with Arsenal centre-half Rob Holding. Fabian Schar, sidelined after having surgery on his shoulder, is in the final year of his contract, so you’d assume he’ll either sign a new deal or be sold. Another wide player is also needed to replace former loanee Valentino Lazaro.”

Where will Jeff Hendrick fit into Newcastle United's team?

LK: “I think he’s come to Newcastle to be the box-to-box presence he knows he can be. A square peg fitted into every other-shaped hole Sean Dyche could find at Burnley, he will want games in the middle at United, whether that be at No10 or No8.”MS: “Hendrick, often used on the right side of midfield by Sean Dyche at Burnley, wants to play through the middle at United, but he faces a lot of competition there. Bruce has Jonjo Shelvey, Isaac Hayden and the Longstaff brothers vying for places in central midfield. Sean Longstaff, of course, can also be used as a No.10.”

All quiet on the takeover front, is that a good or a bad thing?

LK: “Quiet makes a real change, doesn’t it? If it was dead, we’d know. People must take comfort from that. But things are going on in the background, and on the ‘hush, hush’, which really is no bad thing. This is how it should have been from the start. Will these behind-closed-doors talks be enough? I can’t say. Good things come to the those who wait. Ashley wants out and he will be gone whether it is in weeks or months – we’re in the Ashley endgame, I’m sure of that.”MS: “Everything has gone very quiet, and if there was no chance of the takeover being resurrected, I think we’d know by now. So the complete silence from the buying side – and owner Mike Ashley – can be taken as a sign that there’s still a chance of a positive resolution to this long-running saga. United’s fans have done their bit by voicing their support for the would-be buyers – and pressuring the Premier League – and now they must wait.”

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