BREAKING;Story of Eddie’s Howe transfer misses

Newcastle United started Saturday’s Premier League opener against Southampton with no fresh faces in Eddie Howe’s starting XI. Each of those involved from the outset in the St James’ Park curtain-raiser was with the club last season as the north east outfit push for exciting signings before the summer transfer deadline.

Free agent arrival Lloyd Kelly emerged from the bench in Saturday’s win but there was no space in the matchday squad for either new backup goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos or John Ruddy. Attacking outlet William Osula was an unused substitute as 10-man Newcastle ground out the victory with just 22 per cent possession.

Howe has repeatedly stressed his desire to add ‘quality’ to his squad, with one or two more top-class additions actively being pursued. But with less than two weeks left before the market closes, and Newcastle finding the summer ‘difficult’ to date, the European hopefuls are in a race against time to find those first-team options for the head coach to bed in.

Fabian Schar’s impending suspension will do little to aid Newcastle in negotiations with Crystal Palace over Marc Guehi. Howe refused to comment on the club’s pursuit of the England defender but admitted the Magpies were still ‘active’ in the market as the deadline approaches.

“Of course, we’re looking in the transfer market. We’ve got a period of time left, and we’ll see what we can do,” Howe added.

“Could we do something in the market? Possibly, but conditions have to be right for us. As I’ve said all along, we can’t do something that goes against the long-term good of the football club, so we’ll try to make the right decision.”