Steve Bruce responds to questions about Newcastle United's transfer dealings

Steve Bruce says he stands by the decision not to sign a striker in the transfer window.
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Newcastle United failed to scored for the second successive game on Saturday, when they were held to a goalless draw at St James’s Park by Norwich City.

The Premier League game came after the transfer window closed without the club adding a striker to its squad.

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Newcastle signed winger Valentino Lazaro, midfielder Nabil Bentaleb and defender Danny Rose on loan.

Supporters had wanted to see more firepower arrive at St James’s Park – but the club opted against a bid for Jarrod Bowen at Hull City.

Bruce, however, insisted that there weren’t any players available who were better than the strikers he already had at United – and that it was the right decision to wait and reassess the club’s options in the summer.

“Look, I keep going back, I think there was eight or 10 Premier League clubs looking for one, and I go down that route, and they’re no better than what we’ve got,” said Bruce, who hopes to have injured strikers Andy Carroll, Dwight Gayle and Yoshinori Muto back later this month.

“There was nobody out there that could have improved us.

Steve Bruce.Steve Bruce.
Steve Bruce.
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“Some will say there will have been someone. Let me tell you, in the Premier League it’s very very hard. I would rather keep my powder dry, and wait until we get the players we want. If we don’t, I might be defeating the object.

“I might be cutting my nose off to spite my face, which wouldn’t be bad thing. I’m determined to bring more quality in than just add a body, that’s the way I looked at it. We looked and looked. We didn’t get anywhere.

“I was never going to fill the gap, otherwise the team doesn’t improve. My aim is to keep improving.

“I did have to say that Joe (Joelinton) and Miggy (Miguel Almiron) have looked jaded in the last two or three weeks.

“It would be lovely to rest them (against Norwich) and freshen up, but I have not been able to do it.”