Our most expensive signing last summer was Yoshinori Muto.
The Japanese forward cost £9.5million from Bundesliga side Mainz, a sizeable fee for a player signed by Mike Ashley.
His arrival was an interesting one. He had previously been linked with a move to Chelsea but turned it down, and arrived with good reviews from people who had watched him in Germany.
However, his goal return was nothing to write home about.
And since becoming a Newcastle player, he has found the net just once. That was at Old Trafford, where his brilliant strike put us 2-0 ahead. We ultimately lost, but that was Muto’s best Newcastle performance so far.
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Opportunities have been limited. The ones he has received haven’t always been taken. There’s been moments of class from the 26-year-old, followed by times where he’s looked nothing like a Premier League player.
Muto needs to step up
We have seven games left. With seven points between us and the relegation zone, it looks like we’ll be playing Premier League football next season.
Between now and the end of the campaign, Muto must take any chance he gets to prove he can be a success in the North East.
If not, he’ll probably be moved on in the summer. With his pace an intelligence on the ball, he has the tools to be a hit in England.
Physically he can do better, but stature hasn’t stopped Miguel Almiron hitting the ground running.
There were reports that his struggles with English were hindering him, but the Japan international recently conducted an interview in his new language and did well.
Hopefully he’ll pick up some Geordie along the way and can impress Rafa Benitez. With the money invested, we need to see some sort of return.