Newcastle take on Wolves in the opening game of the Premier League Asia Trophy on Wednesday, and it is likely that there will be no new arrivals to take part.
With Ayoze Perez having already left, Mo Diame released and Joselu said to be on the verge of moving to Spain, it is a depleted squad of senior players that will be lining up for the first outing of the season.
It remains to be seen who is given a run out from the start, and who will be kept back for the second game of the trip, but it is likely that everyone will get minutes on the pitch at some point.
But as far as strikers go, it is difficult to see what Newcastle can do, other than play Dwight Gayle.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
That fact alone should say how dire the Toon’s summer has been, with a player deemed surplus to requirements last season, suddenly being the only senior traditional striker on the club’s books.
There are few options to help Dwight Gayle up front while in Asia
With players like Miguel Almiron to be given extra time off, having played international football over the summer, other options are minimal.
Other than taking the likes of Elias Sorensen for the experience, Yoshinori Muto would be the only possibile alternative, and he is hardly an out-and-out striker.
It is a sad indictment of the running of the football club, and the lackadaisical approach to both the management appointment and transfer business.
To be going into pre-season with one forward to choose from is a disgrace, and simply unacceptable for a Premier League club.
But it is not just up front that Newcastle are struggling for numbers, with most areas of the pitch needing strengthening.