Newcastle United’s £210m new strength to boost Champions League hopes

At times last season, Eddie Howe would have turned to his Newcastle United substitutes bench to be met with a row of Under-21 and Academy players. While opportunities for youngsters are always a positive, the game-changing options available to the Magpies head coach were alarmingly thin on the ground on too many occasions in the last campaign.

Injuries took a huge toll on the squad, impacting not only those who saw their season ruined, but also the players who were forced to carry on in, week-in, week-out in a gruelling schedule of Premier League, Champions League and domestic cup football.

Of course injuries and suspensions are part of the game and something every club will deal with, and United will kick off the new campaign without Sven Botman, Lewis Miley and Jamaal Lascelles, with the trio recovering from long-term injuries. Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali will miss the first three matches of the season before his ban ends, with the home against against Tottenham on September 1 earmarked for his return.

Howe and new sporting director Paul Mitchell are intending to add to the squad in the coming weeks too, with several positions identified, not least on the right-hand side of the forward line. Newcastle have been linked with a host of right wingers this summer, and history suggests they get their man.

It’s unlikely Howe will ever get to pick from a fully-fit squad, but even without the currently injured players, he could be set for a huge mark-up on last season. With just one further addition to the starting XI, Newcastle could well boast a bench worth in excess of £200m in the early part of the season.

United’s starting line-up is open to debate, as always, but without Botman and with the addition of a new right winger, it’s not unreasoanble to suggest this XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Gordon, Isak and a new signing.

That leaves some talent on the bench. Of course, you could make a strong case for Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson to be in the starting line-up, as each can offer something different for Howe.

The bottom line is, no matter what the team that starts a game, the United boss should have more options available to him this coming season. And with less games to play without European football, you could argue the potential of picking up even more injuries reduces.

Having £30m-40m players as alternatives – with only one addition to the current squad – should give Newcastle encouragement for the coming season, with that bench value only likely to rise with each signing.