Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says his side are missing an “X-factor” in attack but insists it is unfair to compare record signing Nick Woltemade to outgoing talisman Alexander Isak.
The Magpies have scored just three goals in their opening five Premier League fixtures, with only Aston Villa managing fewer. The lack of cutting edge has underscored the difficulty of adjusting to life without Isak, who completed a British-record transfer to Liverpool on deadline day.
Howe described this summer as the most significant overhaul of his tenure. Newcastle brought in Woltemade (£69m from Werder Bremen) and Yoane Wissa (£55m from Brentford) late in the window after Isak forced his exit.
“In an ideal world, you have a full six-week pre-season to establish partnerships and iron out issues,” Howe explained. “We’re now in a position where we have to do that in competitive matches. I’ve done it before, and I’ve no issue with it, but it is not ideal.”
Wissa’s integration has been delayed by a knee injury sustained on international duty with DR Congo, ruling him out until after the next international break. Woltemade, meanwhile, made a promising start by scoring on his debut against Wolves but is still adapting to the physical demands of English football.
Howe stressed that direct comparisons between Isak and Woltemade are misplaced: “I don’t think any comparison to Alex is favourable to any player. We’re excited by the team we can be. We’re missing that X-factor right now, but with the players we’ve brought in, some are proven goalscorers historically. It will come.”
Isak’s drawn-out transfer saga created disruption, with the striker going on strike to push through his Liverpool move. The protracted negotiations prevented Newcastle from securing an earlier replacement. Pursuits of Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko all ended in disappointment, leaving Howe scrambling in the final days of the window.
Speaking ahead of Newcastle’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Bradford City, Howe admitted the summer had been more turbulent than planned.
“It was never the idea to start the season with new players you have to mould while playing,” he said. “That was never the thought of anyone at the club. The summer was difficult, but we’ve tried to come out of it as strong as we could.”
While Newcastle remain solid defensively, the lack of goals is the immediate concern. Howe believes chemistry will develop as his new-look forward line beds in, but the pressure to find solutions quickly is mounting if the club are to avoid slipping further behind early-season rivals.
