Things will soon be heating up at Newcastle once this (boring) International two-week break is over.

Newcastle will have 9 league games to play through January 1st – 27 points to play for with those 9 games coming in just 37 days.

Along with the increase in the number of games, the January transfer window will soon open, and it looks like Steve Bruce may be in the market for one or two players.

In the last two January windows, we brought in Dubravka and Kenedy in January last year on loan, and bought Almiron last January; so we can get some good players in during January even though it’s always been a difficult window.

One player who would seem to be able to make a difference at Newcastle is Hull City forward Jarrod Bowen, who is having another good season on Humberside.

Since coming into the side back in 2017, he has scored 45 goals in 104 Championship appearances for the Tigers.

This doesn’t mean he can do the same thing in the Premier League of course, but he certainly seems to be a natural goalscorer – and that’s what we need at Newcastle.

By the way, we’d also like to see Dwight Gayle get more playing time because Dwight can also put the ball into the back of the net.

Another player we have been linked with lately and Steve Bruce is very keen on is former Arsenal captain and Swiss International captain Granit Xhaka.

Jarrod Bowen and Granit Xhaka

Xhaka is best of friends with Fabian Schar, and Fabian has been telling him all the good things about Newcastle.

Maybe the best we can do with this player is to get him in on loan and take it from there.

But Mike Ashley hasn’t shown the willingness to pay big bucks in wages and a loan fee for any player.

Steve Bruce is said to think that Xhaka is perfect for the current Newcastle midfield and can help bring through the talented but less experienced players like the talented Longstaff brothers.

Maybe it will happen in January with Xhaka coming in on loan and Bowen costing maybe around £16M.

If we can get those players in, then they will most definitely improve the squad and probably ensure we are still a Premier League club this summer.

That’s the main aim right now.

What do you think?

Comments welcome.