Eddie Howe now praises £39m man's composure in front of goal claiming he has 'a gift'

Newcastle United are in danger of going into a game without a recognised striker on the pitch just five games into the new season.

This was a problem that we saw all too often last season and we'd hoped to avoid this season by shaking up the striker options.

Newcastle did bring in a striker this summer, but the 21-year-old Will Osula has yet to kick a ball in anger for the Magpies and it feels like Eddie Howe doesn't want to rush him into action.

With Alexander Isak a doubt for the game against Fulham on Saturday, and Callum Wilson being an absolute waste of space on the squad list so far this season, we do wonder if Osula will get his chance at Craven Cottage.

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Newcastle don't rely on just Alexander Isak for goals

Fortunately, regardless of whether Eddie Howe gives a start to Osula or not, Newcastle have plenty of players capable of scoring. In fact most of our goals so far this season have come from sources other than Alexander Isak.

One such source is £39 million former Leicester City man Harvey Barnes whose stunning curling finish on Sunday won the match for Newcastle against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Barnes has been exceptional this season so far, and it was seen as an odd call that the 26-year-old didn't start the game on Sunday, but Howe's gamble paid off with the winger coming on at half-time and changing the game.

Harvey Barnes' confidence must be sky high right now

Speaking to the press on Friday morning (via The Chronicle), Eddie Howe heaped praise on Barnes for his calmness in front of goal.

"I think he has a real coolness in front of goal. Of course, it's related to his technical ability. He's got this way that he strikes the ball, he has the composure but his positioning is very good. You don't score the amount of goals that he has without getting into the right areas. He has that gift of being in the right place at the right time."

Barnes' confidence must be sky-high at the moment and with Isak potentially injured it's very likely that Anthony Gordon will be played through the middle which means Barnes will get the nod to start against Fulham where he can turn that confidence into more goals.