Eddie Howe has warned Premier League rivals that Newcastle will be stronger this season.
The Toon boss completed pre-season with a 1-0 win over Champions League-bound Brest, thanks to a goal from Harvey Barnes. Newcastle are looking to complete a deal for Marc Guehi this week, but even without that high calibre signing, Howe says his squad is already fighting fit and stronger.
He has Joelinton, Joe Willock, Barnes, Nick Pope fit again, Sandro Tonali on his way back from a ban, plus new signings Lloyd Kelly and Lewis Hall establishing themselves.
Howe, whose squad also beat Girona 4-0 on Friday night, said: “I think the big thing is, the difference from sort of the middle of the season to the end of the season to now is we’ve got players back and if we can keep them back we will be stronger.
“We’ve still got obviously Callum Wilson, Sven Botman, Jamal Lascelles… huge players, missing. That would make us stronger again but with the likes of Sandro hopefully coming back, Willock today.
“They are massive, massive players for us and they can make a difference. Harvey (Barnes) obviously was missing and I could go through the whole list of players that were missing last year but they will make a big difference.”
Howe wants to land Marc Guehi ahead of the kick off against Southampton next week. Fab Schar limped off with calf trouble late in the win over Brest. Crystal Palace are holding out for £60m. The pursuit of a right winger, the other priority, could be held back until future windows, with Chelsea’s Noni Maduaka a target.
Marc Guehi shone for England at the Euros (
Getty Images)
Howe said: “We’re hopeful to be active and to add at least one player to the group. Let’s wait and see.
“It has to be about quality rather than quantity for us because we have got such a good squad, anyway, that if you’re going to add players to it, they have to push the group to new levels so that’s what we’re looking for, which is very difficult to find. There are not many players that will make us better.
