Eddie Howe insists Newcastle are more likely to do any transfer business ‘at the end of January rather than the beginning’… with the Magpies still analysing when their injured players will return to action
- Newcastle have been plagued by injury problems in the early months of this season
- CLICK HERE for live updates from Newcastle's clash with Nottingham Forest
- It's tight at the top with Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa all dropping points… so who has won Christmas so far? – It all starts
Eddie Howe has insisted that Newcastle are more likely to make transfer activity at the end of the January window than at the start.
The Magpies have been plagued by injuries in the early months of the season and have suffered more than any other Premier League team so far this season.
Nick Pope, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy are among those on the injured list, while Sandro Tonali is out for the season after being banned for 10 months for a betting breach.
Other players have recently returned including Fabian Schar and Sven Botman, while Joelinton is on the bench for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.
Ahead of their clash with Forest, Howe told Amazon Prime that Newcastle will make a decision on arrivals in January when they find out when players will return from injuries.
Eddie Howe says Newcastle are more likely to do transfer business at the end of the January transfer window than at the start – as the Magpies analyze as players return from injuries
Asked if the injuries have changed his mind about what is needed in the January window, Howe said: “Not at the moment as we are still analyzing who will be back and when.
'If everyone is fit, we have a very good team with a lot of depth. None of the injuries we have are of a long-term nature. The only long-term absence we have is Sandro Tonali, so we will have to make the right decision.
“It will probably be the end of January rather than the beginning (when Newcastle are looking to make signings).”
Pope is one of the biggest misses for Howe's Newcastle side at the moment and is expected to return in April after surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
Former Newcastle player Rob Lee believes the Magpies will have to sign a goalkeeper in January.
He said: 'Pope was brilliant. When you have a top class goalkeeper, the defenders feel comfortable.
Newcastle are expected to sign a goalkeeper following Nick Pope's shoulder injury
Harvey Barnes joins the long list of current absentees in an injury-plagued season for the club
“(Martin) Dubravka came on and they conceded a lot of goals. Some of that isn't his fault, but sometimes it's down to the communication between the back four and the goalkeeper. And that's why I think they will definitely go for a keeper in the transfer market.'
Newcastle have been linked with moves for experienced Premier League goalkeepers David de Gea and Hugo Lloris.