Failed Striker Hunt Will Force Alan Pardew To Fast Track Newcastle New-Boy
Ayoze Perez may play more times than you think next season.
Alan Pardew has suggested that he won't be afraid to use Newcastle new-boy Ayoze Perez in the Premier League next season as our efforts to sign a striker continue to falter.
The 22-year-old forward joined from Spanish Segunda Division club Tenerife earlier this month - our first permanent acquisition in 18-months - and was expected to spend the campaign acclimatising to life in England in the development squad under the guidance of Magpies great Peter Beardsley.
But a report in the Shields Gazette states that Perez will undergo extra strength and conditioning work during pre-season to prepare him for the speed and ferocity of the top-flight in a clear indication that Pardew will hasten his elevation into the first-team with a new forward seemingly not forthcoming.
Hes slight, and has a bit of work to do in terms of his body and getting up to speed in the Premier League, Pardew said.
But hes a fantastic talent. Hes scored a lot of goals, and we have high hopes for him. We hope he has a breakthrough season for us.
United have so far failed to add a senior striker to the ranks with deals for free agent Bafetimbi Gomis and Hertha Berlin's Pierre-Michel Lasogga falling by the wayside, while a mooted link with Leeds captain Ross McCormack came to nothing.
And with Yoann Gouffran the only out-and-out centre-forward fit and available to Pardew, who favours him on the left side of a front-three, it will likely lead to the frightening prospect of Perez beginning the season as the spearhead of our attack.