Who is Newcastle's Best Striker?

Matthias Jaissle has defended Matias Fernandez-Pardo following his difficult start to life at Newcastle United, insisting that the Belgian forward is showing excellent finishing ability in training.

But while much of the discussion has centred on Fernandez-Pardo's failure to score, perhaps Newcastle supporters should be asking a different question.

Are we getting the best out of Yoane Wissa by playing him behind Fernandez-Pardo rather than as our main striker?

Wissa arrived at Newcastle with a proven Premier League goalscoring record, having scored 19 league goals for Brentford in the 2024–25 season.

Yet Jaissle has been using him in a deeper No.10 role, with Fernandez-Pardo operating further forward.

It's a decision that deserves closer examination, particularly with Newcastle struggling to turn possession and chances into goals.

Are Newcastle Playing Their Best Goalscorer Out of Position?

Wissa has shown in the 10 role that he has more to his game than many fans realised.

His ability to drop deep, pick up the ball and carry it forward on runs that take him past the oppo, often showing surprising strength and skill, have been a stand out feature in some of our better spells in games.

But his biggest strength is surely his ability to score goals as he showed in the World Cup with a couple of superb finishes.

At Brentford, he was particularly effective making runs behind defenders, finding space inside the penalty area and finishing opportunities.

Playing as a 10 is taking him away from the position that we bought him for and where he has proved he is most effective.

By his own admission, Wissa struggled for fitness after his injury stuttering start to his time at SJP and we never saw anything like the player who had scored 19 goals, without penalties, in his previous season.

With many fans worried that we don't have a clinical finisher in the squad...

Are we and Jaissle missing a trick?

What Does Jaissle See in Pardo That We're Missing?

Jaissle clearly believes Fernandez-Pardo has the qualities to become a successful centre-forward.

And, tellingly, that is where Pardo wants to play and that may well have been part of the discussion during transfer talks.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Aston Villa match, Jaissle praised the youngster's finishing in training and expressed confidence that his first Newcastle goal will come soon.

But, scoring in training and scoring in a full blooded PL game are poles apart.

You get loads of chances in training where play can be set up to practice finishing whereas in the PL chances can come sparingly and a player needs a calm head when defenders and keepers are doing everything possible to block a shot and goal.

We saw exactly that against Coventry when Pardo was put through on goal, got the hard part right, but then had his shot blocked on the line - and earlier instead of taking a shot when a chance was on he inexplicably dummied the ball with no Toon player behind him.

My view at HT in the Coventry game was that Pardo should be moved out wide with Osula coming on to give us height, power and pace through the middle and an 'out' for defenders to hit a long ball when under pressure.

We don't have the time to allow Pardo to 'train' as a ST in the PL - get him out wide where he will have more space, time on the ball, and a far better chance to show the undoubted talent he has and be the big influence on a game that he was bought for.

The last thing we want to do with our £51M 'wonder boy' signing is ruin his confidence when he realises that he isn't up to being a PL striker at this stage of his career.

Could Will Osula Provide the Answer?

The return of Will Osula gives Jaissle another option.

Osula offers pace, physicality and a willingness to run behind defenders.

I know some fans are still unconvinced about Osula but I'm not in that camp.

His goal against Man U last season where he ran virtually the length of the pitch before cutting inside and blasting a shot past the keeper is, IMO, not a flash in the pan but a sign that we have a real player on our books.

Osula is raw, but that is part of his strength.

He is fearless against the best defenders and shows no respect at all for reputations.

He won't be bullied and dishes out more than he gets and has a lot more skill than many have given him credit for,

Last season after getting a run in the team he went on a scoring run and IMO he is fully capable of doing that again but injury has kept him out of a start since the opening game of this season.

Osula's rawness, high energy, and almost frantic playing style, means that he will miss chances by not staying calm, but that calmness will come with regular games and experience, and in the meantime I believe he will still lead the line well and get goals.

In Summary...

I believe it is too early for Pardo to be leading the line; he has hardly any experience in that position to date having played mostly as a winger and 10 - so it is hardly surprising that he is finding the PL a tough deal as a ST in team still not functioning in 4231.

So, for me, the choice as ST is between Osula and Wissa.

I would go for Osula not necessarily because I believe he is a better finisher than Wissa but simply because the team needs more height and a physical threat both as an out for defenders under pressure and for crosses and deadballs.

To date, we aren't pressing defenders and aerial challenges in the oppo's half are none existent.

Osula charges around like a mad bull chasing a matador and relishes, and can win, aerial duels so having big Will in the side is a no brainer for me.

That pressing, and those challenges, also get the crowd geed up and can inspire teammates to do likewise.

So, Matty, release Osula against Villa tomorrow is my cry.

Who do YOU think should start at CF and why?

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