Newcastle United's injury crisis has left them short of options in the final third with both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson ruled out for the next couple of weeks. Both Magpies' strikers have seven goals in all competitions this season, the main source of goals in the black and white squad.
Although Eddie Howe expects Isak to be back in contention after the international break, the recent injury crisis has highlighted the areas Newcastle could still do with strengthening if they want to be consistent top-four contenders.
A centre-half, right-wing, central midfielder and striker have all been mooted as positions Dan Ashworth and his recruitment team will look to strengthen in the coming months. The latter of the four positions seems somewhat of a head scratcher given Howe already has a tough task to pick between Isak and Wilson when both players are fit, meaning a third choice striker would seemingly sit on the bench.
However, Wilson's injury record has hampered his career in recent years and although Newcastle are still getting the best out of him, it's still worth having an eye on the future. Rumours online have suggested a striker younger than both Isak and Wilson would be the ideal signing for Newcastle, given there'd be no immediate rush to play from player or club.
A player of the ilk of Hugo Ekitike - but certainly not the Frenchman given those bridges have been burned - would be the right sort of signing. Saying that, the Toon have also been linked with a Bundesliga striker who's making the rest of Europe sit up and take note.
The majority of the talk in Germany has been on Harry Kane and how he would have won the Bundesliga Golden Boot already last season with his 17 goals in just 11 games - last season's top scorers was Niclas Fullkrug with 16 goals for the entire season. However, Kane has someone hot on his tail with a record that deserves plenty of plaudits alone.
Newcastle were of course linked with a move for Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy last season, but his 15 goals in just nine appearances mean he has a better goals per minute ratio than Kane and a better goals per 90 minutes. The Guinean striker has burst onto the scene having spent the majority of his career playing in France.
Guirassy has scored goals wherever he's gone, but his recent run in front of goals is incredible. The Stuttgart forward has a reported buyout clause in the region of just PS15.2million in the January transfer window - a bargain for anyone lacking goals so far this season.
Anyone concerned about Guirassy's age need look back at the bargain move Newcastle made to sign Papiss Demba Cisse back in 2012 - with the then 27-year-old signing for the Magpies for less than PS10million. There are plenty of similarities between Cisse and Guirassy given have scored goals wherever they've played and the Toon are pushing for Europe.
Newcastle still technically haven't replace Chris Wood after his departure for Nottingham Forest and a look at those clubs competing for the top-four again this season, only highlights their strength in depth. Manchester City have regularly rotated their front line - prior to Erling Haaland's arrival - while Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all have a number of players who can lead the line.
Black and white supporters saw the impact Wood had in short space of time n helping keep Newcastle in the top flight and Guirassy could help at the other end of the table in firing the Magpies into the Champions League places once again in the absence of either Wilson or Isak.