Jetro toll
BRUCE’S PLANS HIT BY DEFENSIVE CRISIS
STEVE BRUCE’S bid to sign a striker this month has been hit by a leftback crisis.
With Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett ruled out for the season, the Newcastle manager needs to bring in a defender who can play on that flank.
But having finalised a loan deal for former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, and with Inter Milan wideman Valentino Lazaro set to complete a temporary move in the next 48 hours, Bruce finds his hands tied.
Willems returns to parent club Eintracht Frankfurt for surgery after damaging cruciate knee ligaments during the 1-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday.
That will free up one space in the Magpies’ 25-man squad and Dummett’s slot could also be available.
But with Ki Sung-yueng the only likely departure during this window, that will leave no squad number free, even if Bruce finds the goalscorer he craves.
Bentaleb, 25, arrives from Schalke, where he has fallen out with the club’s management. Though he has Premier League experience, he is badly short of match practice, having played only two cup games for the Bundesliga side this term.
Lazaro is expected to follow the Algerian into St James’ Park this week.
He has spent most of his career at Hertha Berlin and Inter on the flanks and that is the role he will have at Newcastle.
It would leave Joelinton as Newcastle’s only recognised – and fit
– striker, with Dwight Gayle and Yoshi Muto injured and Andy Carroll struggling to shake off a hip problem.
Bruce is willing to gamble on the club’s record buy coming good after a promising display at the weekend, while he has suggested Allan Saint-Maximin can play through the middle. Bruce admits that dealing with a spate of injuries and trying to strengthen the squad has left him mentally drained.
Rather than celebrate the last-gasp win over Chelsea, Bruce said: “I go back home now and have a cup of team like a sad, sad individual.
“I’m in bed very quickly.”