In Focus: Newcastle’s new-look XI after January overhaul

Struggling Newcastle were always expected to be busy in the January market — and their new owners did not disappoint.

Early arrivals Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood were joined on Tyneside by the trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett in the window’s final hours, bolstering boss Eddie Howe’s options significantly.

With the club’s Saudi owners injecting over £90million of investment, Howe is now under pressure to get his upgraded group firing as the Premier League relegation battle enters its dramatic final stages.

Ahead of their return to action against Everton next week, we take a closer look at what Newcastle’s spending spree may leave their first-choice XI looking like. 

New-look defence

It is fair to say that former Brighton defender Dan Burn was probably not the Magpies’ first-choice target at centre-back.

But a failure to land Lyon ace Sven Botman led them to seek alternatives and Blyth-born Burn, 29, was never going to reject a switch to the club he supported as a boy.

The 6ft 7in colossus racked up 74 Premier League appearances with the Seagulls and should slot straight into his new side’s backline alongside either Fabian Schar or Jamaal Lascelles.

Club captain Lascelles, 28, has turned in some poor performances of late and there is no guarantee that he will retain his spot over 30-year-old Swiss international Schar.

Meanwhile, Kieran Trippier has already established himself as one of the first names on Howe’s team-sheet since arriving from LaLiga champions Atletico Madrid four weeks ago.

The England regular, 31, has the right-back berth locked in and 26-year-old Aston Villa loanee Targett will hope to do the same at left-back given Howe has tried various options in that area with limited success.

Behind that quartet, steady Slovakian stopper Martin Dubravka, 33, will retain No1 status after deadline day links with Manchester United’s Dean Henderson eventually came to nothing.

Midfield conundrum

Many have suggested that Newcastle’s £35m capture of ball-playing midfielder Guimaraes from Lyon is their best piece of business by some distance.

A four-cap Brazil international, the 24-year-old looks to have all the tools at his disposal to become a Premier League star and is primed to emerge as the Toon’s new talisman.

But Howe faces a difficult decision how to build around him, with his preference for a three-man midfield made crystal clear in recent months.

Jonjo Shelvey is someone the 44-year-old boss has waxed lyrical about previously, labelling the ex-Liverpool man, 29, an "incredible technician" and it appears unlikely he will lose his place.  

That therefore spells bad news for the popular Joelinton and summer signing Joe Willock, with the duo now seemingly scrapping for one spot.

Joelinton, 25, became an object of ridicule after struggling for goals in his maiden Premier League campaign but has been a revelation since being switched from centre-forward into an attacking midfield role.

Often Newcastle’s most impressive player in recent outings, he may edge out 22-year-old ex-Arsenal man Willock, who is without a single goal or assist since making his Tyneside switch permanent following a fruitful loan stint last season.

Forward thinking

If there was to be one criticism of Newcastle’s transfer dealings, missing out on French wonderkid Hugo Ekitike appears to have left them a little short at the top of the pitch.

A deal for the Reims teenager may be revisited in the summer but for now the goalscoring burden still rests largely on the shoulders of familiar faces.

Mercurial winger Allan Saint-Maximin, 24, is the go-to man to make things happen on the left, with five league goals and three assists sure to be added to in the coming months by the unpredictable Frenchman.

Keeping him fit will be key — especially with top scorer Callum Wilson, 29, facing at least another month on the sidelines with his calf issue.

In his absence, ex-Burnley marksman Wood, 30, will be tasked with leading the line and ideally rediscovering the goalscoring form that has seen him notch double-figure returns in his last four full top-flight campaigns.

Finally, the right flank appears to belong to Ryan Fraser, with the 27-year-old Scot showing flashes of his best form against Watford and Leeds with the steadying presence of Trippier now behind him.

Trial and error

Of course, bedding in new signings can take time and some new faces are sure to settle quicker than others.

It would not be all that surprising if Howe opts to experiment with his formation in the coming weeks in an attempt to strike the perfect balance at St James’ Park.

Two strikers could prove a more aggressive option when Wilson returns, while a switch to a back five could also be of interest given Trippier and Targett’s ability to provide genuine width going forward.

For now, expect to see Howe stick with his preferred 4-3-3.

While many early rumours may have held a more glamorous tone, Newcastle’s January window largely consisted of acquiring known commodities. 

But crucially, through the outstanding addition of Guimaraes, the Magpies now look primed to fly clear of the bottom three. 

Check out our possible Newcastle XI and let us know what you think @LiveScore.