For all the late additions Newcastle brought to the club in the summer, a right winger was a glaring omission, and one that needs to be addressed in January.
Well, in a question and answer session on Wednesday, the Chronicle were asked if Steve Bruce would be active in the winter transfer window, to which the answer was yes – to an extent.
The Magpies will not be seeking to overhaul the squad in January, according to the Chronicle, but they will be looking to add “one or two players”, with also further outgoings in the pipeline.
Thankfully, it goes on to say Newcastle are “actively looking for another winger too”, which will be a relief to many fans.
It is a shame that the winger for the left flank they brought in, Allan Saint-Maximin, has suffered an early injury, and Matt Ritchie picked up a knock in the EFL Cup defeat, which has deprived Bruce of a key component in his game-plans.
But with the Frenchman and Ritchie both getting closer to fitness, he may have them back in the fold sooner, rather than later.
So it is to be hoped – and assumed – that any winger sought in January will be for the right-wing, and it will not be a moment too soon.
Right-sided reinforcements are definitely needed
Currently, with Emil Krafth struggling at wing-back, and DeAndre Yedlin not having played yet this season, there has been very little attacking contribution from the right.
Jarrod Bowen and Rony Lopes have both been linked with Newcastle in recent weeks, and while not a lot is known about Lopes, Bowen would be a superb, exciting addition to our – or any – Premier League squad.
The position must be addressed, and if they can have their preferred targets lined up prior to the window opening, they should be in contact with players, clubs and agents over Christmas, to strike early, and maximise the number of games from a potential new signing.
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