Steve Bruce is banking on Newcastle United’s injured forwards to return and make a difference this season.
The Magpies’ boss admitted after the 3-1 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday that his side were lacking options off the bench that could come on and make a difference in games.
After only having Yoshinori Muto to bring on against the Reds, Bruce believed that the injured forwards will help cause much more of a threat going forward.
“We can still get better and still do more,” he told the Chronicle.
“I still think we will get better when we’ve got a bit more at the top end of the pitch to cause a bit more of a threat but, overall, the way they’ve gone about their work, I’ve been very, very pleased.”
Allan Saint-Maximin, Andy Carroll, and Dwight Gayle are all still sidelined with injuries with the trio only managing a single start combined in the Premier League this campaign.
OPINION
Despite an obvious lack of options available to him in the final third, Bruce has managed relatively well in his first couple of months at Newcastle. He knows better than anyone on the outside that his Magpies’ side is screaming out for more options in the final third. Record-signing Joelinton has definitely not hit the ground running, and Miguel Almiron is simply not an out-and-out striker. There definitely isn’t much squad depth at the moment, and that was highlighted against Liverpool when they had to bring on Muto to try and affect the result. The Japanese international has only managed a single goal in the Premier League in his 21 appearances, not exactly setting the world alight his performances. There is a lack of Premier League experience in the final third for Bruce, who is right to be banking on injured options such as Carroll to come in and make a difference, as they have been there and done that throughout their careers.
