Yesterday, Steve Bruce revealed that strengthening the attack was not a priority during this transfer window. He was asked about links with Bournemouth’s Josh King when he said he said he felt Newcastle were ‘okay in that area’.
While Newcastle have been linked with a few forwards, the majority of our reported targets seem to be at the back of the pitch. Though it now seems increasingly likely that a couple of them, Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori and Man United’s Brandon Williams, will not be allowed to leave this month.
Over the summer, Newcastle were in talks with Arsenal over a year-long loan for defender Rob Holding. In fact, some reported that the deal was practically all tied up. However, Mikel Arteta pulled the plug and kept Holding at the Emirates.
That decision has turned out well for the 25-year-old as he’s already matched last season’s total of 18 appearances. However, this time he’s a regular who starts the majority of Arsenal’s matches.
Newcastle were unable to find another recruit after Holding’s deal fell apart. We’ve struggled at times keeping our backline intact with so many injuries and also the Covid outbreak impacting a lot of our defenders.
With all this in mind, Steve Bruce was asked yesterday about Florian Lejeune, who is playing very well on loan with Alaves. This is what Bruce said about a possible recall for the Frenchman as published in The Chronicle:
“The purpose of it was to go and play. He’s playing week in, week out so I’m led to believe.
“Of course, we’re kept updated on him. It would be nice for Shola, our loans manager, to go and see him but with the problems…the feedback is he’s doing OK.
“He’s fit and he’s healthy, which is the most important thing, so I think it’s important that the kid still plays games.”
Lejeune has impressed in Spain so far. He is a key member of the Alaves squad already making 16 starts this year. He’s closing in on surpassing the 22 total appearances he’s had the previous two injury-riddled seasons on Tyneside.
The important thing, as Bruce states, is that Florian continues to play after two serious knee injuries ruled him out for much of the last two years. He also seems well suited to the Spanish game and has vast experience in La Liga with his time at Eibar.
So it may be best to not interrupt Lejeune’s loan spell by bringing him back to Newcastle this month. He’ll have one year remaining on his contract this summer and his future can be sorted out after what will hopefully be a full season of football with Alaves.
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100 comments so far
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Comment #81Adam
It’s not from articles or such it’s from everything that’s been released with regards to information ever since the Saudis released the statement.
For like yourself and say Jail you will need bang on proof to believe these things which I can’t blame any fan for but for me it’s clear as day and it’s not just led by blind hope.
I can’t go into all details but I’m confident in what I believe is exactly what will bear fruition in the not to distant future
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:47 AM
Comment #82Magic, didnt we have Davo Dave Leary ??
🙂
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:47 AM
Comment #83Newcastle Consortium Supporters
@NCSL1892
Watch closely as things change in our favour! Remember those articles where credible people slaughtered those who dared to dream & drew blame to the great people trying to make this happen! It’s healthy to want your dreams
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:47 AM
Comment #84Daaayvo
Daaayvo Leary !!!
🙂
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #85GP
He to slow Keith that article was out yesterday 😉
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #86Cheers Goth
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Comment #87Munster
They definitely deserve all the applauds they are getting and most certainly don’t deserve the amount of trolling they are receiving
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:50 AM
Comment #88I’m with you Mund, even if you dissed the sh1t out of me for having a different perspective on Rafa ( whilst not being in Catchys’ league ) . Im still with you dude.
We;ll get there eventually – otherwise I might aswell go support Boro and stop dreaming 🙂
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Comment #89Magicmac,
I’m at a loss to understand why have such a shortage of quality British and Irish managers, you can exclude Brendan Rodgers from that mind. I don’t know if it is about grassroots football or whether it goes back as far as the European ban in the eighties which seemed to set our teams back massively, maybe it put managers out of touch as well, I know one thing though, bar BR there is not one British or Irish manager that would get a job at any of the top European clubs.
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Comment #90Keith was clearly livid about this Mund – the trolling seemed to have go to a point where he had started to boil up. Who the f is trolling him – NUFC fans? Random fools from manchester etc?
Munster Mag
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Comment #91Roy Keane was quality Magic 🙂
Gothmog's Pyjamas
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:54 AM
Comment #9216.30 deadline for the Fantasy footballers out there.
If you havent checked your team since the last game, probs not a bad idea to do it!
Adamn_92
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Comment #93Mund
Fair enough, like I’ve said already I do agree and think that everything happening recently is all good news and positive signs. I’ve been stung by false takeovers and hope too many times so i’m still remaining a little skeptical until i’ve seen something absolutely certain to suggest it’s happening which i’m sure you can understand. I’m far more confident recently though and think we’ll have great news in a few months/halfway through the year.
Mund
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Comment #94Munster
They call themselves fans but it’s clear the agenda is to spread hate and negativity towards Keith and NCSL.
I wouldn’t put it past being the PL spies inserted to disrupt and destroy as its way out of line but then again maybe it’s just a portion of fans who don’t want Saudi involvement.
Jail for Ashley
Jan 12, 2021 at 11:59 AM
Comment #95Adamn,
There are three bullets points with the last one being we will be eleven points clear of relegation, De Marco’s name was used but hasn’t mentioned anything in that tweet, it’s set out to look like De Narcos has said it but has said nothing of the sort, basically a tweet to get people’s hopes up.
lesh
Jan 12, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Comment #96Did I get the impression that Keith Patterson was selling up, close to tears when the three amigos were praising him? That is not a criticism but a suggestion that he was or is near exhausted. We must hope that his exertions do not impact on his health.
As far as recognition from NUFC, KP would be a credible choice for the role of fans’ rep on the club’s board – whether with Ashley or more likely when the takeover’s completed.
lesh
Jan 12, 2021 at 12:11 PM
Comment #97Mund
It’s understandable that wouldn’t put it past EPL using trolls to disrupt and destroy Keith Patterson’s effort. As you’ll know, such tactics are not unknown.
Yet why should some of our posters dismiss the idea of Ashley/ Bishop employing posters to disrupt or counter fan criticism of Ashley and his minions?
lesh
Jan 12, 2021 at 12:13 PM
Comment #98Whoops
Correction to @96 which should have read…..
….. that Keith Patterson was *welling*, up close to tears…
magicmac54
Jan 12, 2021 at 12:19 PM
Comment #99Munster Mag
Munster Mag Roy Keane was a quality player beyond doubt, but were you suggesting he was a quality manager, i think not, although having said that i would have Roy Keane as manager over Bruce all day long, there would be no extra days of, plus he would have no blue eyed boys of favourites and would take no prisoners ha ha ha
magicmac54
Jan 12, 2021 at 12:31 PM
Comment #100Some very interesting debates here this morning in reference to the possible takeover which gives me some hope the takeover is still a possibility, after so many false dawns in the past and our hopes and dreams being shattered its very understandable sceptical, iam still on the sceptical step, but all you folks are given me a little bit more hope and confidence this takeover could still happen, your comments are giving me some hope.