Matthias Jaissle admits Newcastle United trying to fix big problem from Eddie Howe days
The Magpies have work to do on the training ground as their assist record from wide men continues to haunt them
Newcastle United boss Matthias Jaissle insists the Magpies will find solutions after a worrying trend from last season drifted into the new campaign.
So far, with five games played in all competitions, no Newcastle wingers have conjured up an assist with Lewis Hall and Amar Dedic, Jaissle’s full-back pairing, providing the service again. Hall was at it again at the New Den when laying on his second assist in two matches, but Jaissle is calm about the situation.
Jacob Murphy produced a below-par display in south London last night when handed an opportunity ahead of Anthony Elanga on the right. There have also been no assists from Harvey Barnes so far this term – although the latter does have three goals to his name, while Elanga and Bazoumana Toure have also been on the scorehseet, albeit without creating either.
Jaissle told reporters: “We can work on it. There were also some important players missing. But we’re scoring goals, there are patterns already in how we score the goals, and there is quality, which is shown by how we missed a couple of chances as well.
“So this is something normal in football, and the foundation is there. It’s something we can build on. It’s still early.”
Dedic retired early last night after some hamstring trouble flared up, but his form has been excellent since his £29m move from Benfica this summer. Speaking on his creative full-backs, Jaissle said: “They’re really important, as you saw also in the statistics, they don’t lie, so we involve them heavily in possession, usually to be also dominant in the final third.
“And we have that quality on both sides, so I’m really pleased to see these performances.”
Between Barnes, Murphy, Elanga and Anthony Gordon last season the wide men produced just four assists between them. With Gordon now at Barcelona, there is more emphasis on creating chances, although Barnes and Elanga will argue that they have weighed in with goals in all competitions.
Barnes has three to his name as top scorer, while Elanga has a couple in the bag already after some long droughts last season under Eddie Howe. The other main concern is a lack of goals from Newcastle’s strikers with only Yoane Wissa managing to get on the scoresheet.
William Osula has been injured while Nick Woltemade was loaned out to Juventus on deadline day and Matias Fernandez-Pardo is currently not at full fitness levels after his move from Lille.
