Newcastle United news: McAvennie hails ‘brilliant’ signings and issues relegation verdict
Eddie Howe has “no excuses” if he fails to keep Newcastle United in the Premier League this season.
That’s according to former West Ham hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after a busy January at St James’ Park.
Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Dan Burn were all brought to St James’ Park as Newcastle look to avoid relegation.
As per The Athletic (1 February), Newcastle’s business cost the club roughly £92million, the largest January spend in their history.
The Magpies remain in the relegation zone ahead of Tuesday’s (8 February) crunch game against Everton.
McAvennie insists Howe has everything available to him in his big to keep the club up.
“I mean, they have to stay up, surely?” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“You look at the business they have done. Three new defenders, a striker and this new midfielder everyone is excited about.
“I know they wanted more, maybe another attacker. There was a lot of talk about Lingard.
“But staying up should be a formality now. Eddie Howe has no excuses.
“Other Newcastle managers have been able to say they weren’t backed, that certainly isn’t the case here.
“It was near to £100million they spent, which is brilliant.
“It would be a bit embarrassing really but I think they have done enough to stay up.”
The Magpies will move out of the relegation zone with a win over Everton.
New signing Guimaraes will be available to Howe after arriving in Newcastle and taking part in his first training session on Friday (4 February).
In other news, finance guru “expects” second Magpies mission to Saudi Arabia after PIF latest