Newcastle can only afford to bring a defender in the remainder of the window – after more questions on a lack of firepower

Newcastle United head coach Eddie on the touchline at Wolves(Image: Getty Images)

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has rejected suggestions that his side have too many “like for like” players this season.

When asked if he would be able to get help in attack in the remainder of the window, Howe told us: “I don’t think we have the financial ability to do that.”

And responding to the claim that he has too many “like for like” stars, Howe, speaking after the stalemate at Wolves, told Chronicle Live: “We replace a winger for a winger. They have different qualities all of them.

“Whether it is Harvey Barnes or the two Anths, Jacob Murphy when he is fit, they all have different attributes. So yes they may be referred to as a wide player.

“But you saw Anthony Elanga come on today. I thought he did really well and I was really happy with him.

“He gives us a totally different threat to somebody who plays in that position. I think you can say that for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

“They are two totally different strikers but they will both be labelled a striker. So that is the squad we have got.

“And I am really proud to manage this group of players. I don’t think our attacking output today was good enough.

“It has been similar at away games. If people want to accuse us of that I think that is totally fair, and we have to find a way to score goals on the road.”

Reflecting on the 0-0 draw with Wolves, in which the first shot on target eventually arrived in the 86th minute, Howe said: “We needed to do more in attack. Defensively, very good.

“I thought we minimised their threat, their transition threat was going to be their main source with how they played. They dropped off low and protected their goal well.

“They defended in numbers but still I’d expect to do better and create more. I thought we attacked better the more the game went on.

“I thought the substitutions helped. I thought there were good openings towards the end but we didn’t take them, frustrating day.”

Howe was asked if his side lacked spark with the congested fixture catching up with his team. Howe said: “I think that is an easy thing to say. I understand why you’d say that but generally I don’t think so.

“There was a bit of fatigue in the Man City performance in my opinion after Bournemouth. Today I thought we physically looked OK but I think it was more to the fact they defended very low and minmised space.

“The expectation on us was to always create against a low block of 10 players, and we need to do it better. It is tough to do at times.

“But I thought we put some really good balls in the box, too many going across the front of their goal with not enough Newcastle shirts in the box, so that is a disappointment for us.

“I was generally happy with the attitude, the endeavour, the effort from the players was there, but the quality was missing. In games like that, you are looking for one moment.

“An indvidual moment of brilliance that wins you the game or a set-play. All the way through I thought it would come even through to the last kick but it wasn’t to be.”