Playing up front for Newcastle United is a tough, tough ask. Not only do you need the ability score goals against some of the toughest defences in Europe, the iconic names to have lead the line for previous Newcastle sides mean an almost intolerable pressure is placed on those charged with scoring goals for the Magpies.
Since Alan Pardew’s controversial appointment at the Tyneside club, he has stressed the importance of not only keeping star asset Andy Carroll, but also strengthening his forward line with a January signing to safeguard Newcastle’s position in the top-flight. Clearly unimpressed with the first team prospects of both Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi, Pardew is said to be on the lookout for more firepower.
With time already running out to make a marquee acquisition, Pardew would do worse than give the in-form Leon Best a chance to stake his claim to a starting berth alongside Carroll. Having only just recovered from a cruciate ligament injury sustained during his first pre-season at the club, Best announced his arrival in the first team last week with a stunning hat trick against basement club West Ham.
A signing under previous Newcastle manager, Chris Hughton, Best was snapped up after no more than steady performances for Championship outfit Coventry City, and is better known amongst football fans for his “Zorro” mask phase than he is for his accuracy in the penalty area.
Nevertheless, his recent goals have left Pardew with a conundrum heading into the New Year. Whilst he would certainly prefer to stamp his own authority on a squad with a handful of new signings in key positions, the former West Ham boss will be conscious that value for money in the compressed January window is particularly difficult to find, and with a number of the Newcastle faithful remaining sceptical about the former West Ham man’s credentials, any transfer market flops will be harshly judged.
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On the other hand, placing faith in a man unproven at the top level is something many Premier League managers would be loathe to consider, particularly as the player in question has never previously shown the consistency required to consistently trouble Championship defences, let alone those in the league above.
However, owner Mike Ashley will not grant Pardew an unlimited budget with which to make his mark on the Magpies’ playing staff. After watching their tame defeat to League Two side Stevenage during this weekend’s FA Cup tie, it may be argued his resources are best used shoring up a leaky defence rather than dismissing the claims of a youngster hungry to make his impression as a supplementary force to undisputed number nine, Andy Carroll.
Newcastle’s recent history is littered with tales of strikers unable to match the expectations of the club’s supporters. Players of the calibre of Patrick Kluivert and Michael Owen have been found wanting when it appeared they had all the tools to be Toon icons. The unique pressures of playing football on Tyneside are something that very few players would come to the club prepared for and many would forgive Pardew for granting the youngster a chance to make himself indispensable to the new manager.
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