Last, but certainly not least is the 23-year-old Dinamo Moscow striker (above, left) that was on fire in the Russian Premier League before flying off to Brazil, scoring 10 goals in 15 games and leading his club to 4th during his first full season with the club he joined last year. Due to the extreme temperatures, the league season in Russia runs through the summer. Kokorin is seen as the man to step up and replace the legendary Alexander Kerzhakov, who equaled Russis's all time goal scoring record of 26 in the 1-1 draw with South Korea on matchdat day one, as the team's focal point. He has played for the national team since 2011, earning 22 caps and scoring 5 goals. Although he is yet to hit the heights internationally, he certainly has the potential to do so and, under the stewardship of Fabio Capello, his Russia career could take off soon. Despite it being unlikely that Newcastle could match the wages he will earn in the astronomical financial climate of his home country, offering Kokorin a route into the best league in the world may make him a realistic target and Newcastle should really look in to it Six foot isn't the tallest for a striker, and Kokorin's style dictates that he is much better and playing on the shoulder of a defender, making clever runs and latching onto passes than taking the ball into his body and bringing others into the game. He could definitely thrive at St James' Park but If Alek Kokorin was to join Newcastle and Pardew was to stick with the current way of playing, a partner would be needed for him to play off. The club is in desperate need of strikers right now and a look over in Russia may not be the worst idea.
Budding football journalist, European football fan and Newcastle United season ticket holder. I have contributed to FourFourTwo.com and The Evening Chronicle.
