Lee Clark believes that Newcastle United's team sheet on the opening day of the 2022/23 season in August could look very different after what many anticipate as a big summer at St James' Park.
Phase one of the new ownership is close to being completed with Premier League survival the first aim at St James' Park. Beyond that a summer recruitment drive is set to follow and Clark sees big changes ahead.
Clark told Chronicle Live: "I think you could easily see four or five, possibly more. When Bruno Guimaraes gets alongside some top notch players I can see him being an outstanding player, he is a great technician, moves it round the pitch well and he has great technical awareness.
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"Alongside Trippier, people like Matt Targett who has done really well for me. I know people have spoken about Chris Wood doing well but the lad has come in and done a different job for the team.
"He's been a focal point and target man and started the press off well. Is he going to be a striker that takes you into the Champions League? Of course he isn't.
"I think the lad knows that, if you are talking about signing a couple more strikers this summer, Chris Wood wouldn't be a bad choice as fourth striker. Somebody to throw on if you want to go more direct."
Despite back to back defeats at Everton and Chelsea, Newcastle are still on course for survival in the top-flight. With 31 points in the bag and nine games remaining, it is a scenario that most would have accepted just a few weeks ago.
Clark said: "Let's be honest if somebody had have said in January you will be going to Everton nine points clear of the drop, you'd have snapped their hands off. It hasn't changed - the number one goal is to stay in the Premier League then regroup.
"Let the new ownership really get going with top class recruitment. I have to say all the January signings have made a positive impact.
"If they can continue to make that type of recruitment you think they will go even bigger when they sign the next group of players. If you are in the Premier League and players know that you can attract better players, some of them in January wouldn't take the risk because of the threat of relegation.
"They were worried if Newcastle did go down would they be able to leave in the summer? We know they are looking at new training ground sites so they can get their teeth into things both on and off the pitch."
Looking back on the two performances at Chelsea and Everton, Clark was only mildly disappointed with the display at Goodison Park as he felt the Toffees were there for the taking.
Clark said: "They got it right at Chelsea, they were strong defensively and able to hit them on the break. "I felt for them when they lost because that injustice with the penalty and Kai Havertz staying on the field when he should have been red carded. The Thursday game at Everton I think we were all looking forward to it. They aren't playing well and the fans aren't seeing eye to eye with the players and manager.
"You have a similar scenario there to when Mike Ashley was at Newcastle, they just aren't seeing eye to eye. You think you can go there and keep them quiet and get into them early.
"The crowd were behind the team and they were fighting. Newcastle tried to weather storm and they did well, then Everton go down to 10 men and I don't know if it was just United thinking: 'We've got this now'.
"But they just didn't find the level they had previously and they didn't really test Asmir Begovic in the goal, it was just a really flat performance. Something we hadn't seen for a long time."
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