Newcastle United news round-up: Pundits slam Magpies duo ahead of Oxford United FA Cup replay

Beginning with the Magpies’ record signing, former Leeds United striker Whelan claimed he was “very sceptical” when the Brazillian signed for £40million then handed the number 9 shirt in the summer.

Whelan doubted the 23-year-old’s ability to score goals in England with a goal-scoring record of 11 goals in 36 games in the Bundesliga.

He told Football Insider: “We talk about pressure. I was very sceptical when they brought him in, how he would adapt to the English game.

“You have got to hit the ground running very quickly when you get bought such an amount of money. I am sure Newcastle fans would have expected a lot more goals from him up to this point.

“He was not prolific during his time in Germany. You look at his goalscoring record in a league that is not as strong as the Premier League and if you have not got the goals there – what says you are going to be prolific in the Premier League?

“They have always had great number nines from Andy Cole to Alan Shearer – there is a lot of weight on that shirt. You have got to make sure you do not disappoint.”

Meanwhile, Mills, a former England international, believes Rose’s exit from Tottenham Hotspur was partly down to the player’s attitude.

The 29-year-old left-back joined Newcastle on loan for the remainder of the season on deadline day.

“I think a lot of that was instigated by Danny Rose,” Mills told the same publication.

“He knows that he’s still in and around the England squad – that left-back position is between him and Chilwell and he needs to play.”

“It was quite apparent that for whatever reason, maybe through some of his own doing – saying that he didn’t really want to be at Tottenham, he wasn’t going to sign a contract extension – he’d been left out of the side.

“I think he knows himself he needs to play football.”