Former Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has backed the club to earn a draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
The Magpies take on Spurs in their opening Premier League fixture on Saturday.
Rafael Benitez’s side have been busy in the transfer window, bringing in seven new faces including Salomon Rondon, Kenedy, Yoshinori Muto and Federico Fernandez.
However, former Toon striker Owen has criticised the club’s summer business, despite backing them to get a point at the weekend.
“Their summer signings have been largely underwhelming and you can almost feel the frustration in Rafa Benitez’s voice as he prepares for the visit of Spurs,” Owen told Bet Victor.
“Spurs are yet to make a new signing themselves whilst their title/top four rivals continue to build and improve. Mauricio Pochettino has criticised what he believes to be the premature closure of the transfer window and feels Premier League clubs are at a disadvantage compared to the rest of Europe who have another three weeks to do their business.”
“Spurs have several key players returning from World Cup action on Monday and it will be fascinating to see if Pochettino starts with Kane and co at St James’s Park on Saturday or keeps them on the bench.”
“I think Newcastle will keep a point.”
OPINION
Michael Owen is not often right, but he is absolutely right on this issue. Newcastle’s summer transfer window has been very underwhelming, yes there have been quantity with eight signings, but there isn’t much quality among them. The best signing of the summer is undoubtedly Kenedy, but as he was actually on loan at the club last season, he doesn’t really count as an addition, just maintaining the level they were at in the previous year. The same goes with Salomon Rondon, who simply replaced Dwight Gayle, and the same goes with Fabian Schar and Federico Fernadez, who have replaced the outgoing Chancel Mbemba and the injured Florian Lejeune. Where is the improvement? Where is the money from the Mitrovic sale? These are questions that have yet to be answered, but fans will demand them if the team doesn’t get off to a good start this season against Spurs on Saturday.
