GOALS from midfield are priceless – but Newcastle need reinforcements up front sharpish if they are to smash their way into Europe.
Boss Eddie Howe and new transfer guru both know it, as do the fans hoping for the season of a lifetime.
Out in Austria, at the foot of the Austrian Alps, midfielders Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes scored to see off German third tier side 1860 Munich 3-0.
Sven Botman made a composed debut after his £35million move from Lille as a second-half sub.
And while it was a decent workout against limited opposition, the lack of firepower is becoming ever more evident.
Callum Wilson guarantees goals but has struggled with injuries on Tyneside while target man Chris Wood scored just two in 17 games last season.
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On the wings, Allan Saint-Maximin is magical at his best on the left yet they need more than Ryan Fraser, Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron on the right to compete with the big boys.
Howe has been busy beefing up his back five with Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Matt Targett.
Bruno Guimaraes adds star quality in midfield.
However, of the £150m splashed since the Saudi takeover last October, only £12m – on Chris Wood – has been spent on an attacker.
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Hefty asking prices have put them off targets like Bayer Leverkusen flyer Moussa Diaby and Real Sociedad hot shot Alexander Isak recently.
But with the new season just three weeks away, a new striker and winger are required so time really is of the essence if this is to prove a transformative campaign.
The travelling Toon Army hoping to run the rule over 6ft 5in Botman in the idyllic setting just outside Saalfelden had to wait.
But fellow newbie Nick Pope soon drew chants of ‘England’s number one’ when the former Burnley stopper kept Newcastle in it with a flying save to his left from a free kick.
And despite looking a cut above the German minnows early on, it was a stuttering first half.
Hot prospect Elliot Anderson drifted in and out, livewire Saint-Maximin struggled to sparkle and Wilson was left isolated up top.
1860 caused trouble from set-pieces at the other end, leaving it a far from ideal 45 minutes in their first public friendly.
Botman was the only change at the break, replacing skipper Jamaal Lascelles, and the Tynesiders were ahead soon after when Willock lashed into the roof of the net.
Sub Longstaff’s classy piledriver across goal doubled then doubled the lead before Bruno made it 3-0 with a tap in.
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