5. Goalkeeping Cover
In Dutch international goalkeeper Tim Krul (surely set to take the international number one jersey under the new regime) covering the net at St James Park, Newcastle have very few worries about their deepest defensive foundation. Last season the young star saved his side a good few points with his agility and shot-stopping abilities helping him to an impressive number of clean sheets, and his team to one of the finest defensive records in the Premier League. But beyond Krul, Newcastle are painfully limited with Fraser Forster now gone, and veteran Steve Harper rumoured to be a target for Newcastle old boy Lee Clark, now at Birmingham City. That leaves just Rob Elliot, who is a largely untested quality at Premier League level (aside from one poor performance in the League Cup against Nottm Forest last year), and a handful of young 'keepers to vie for the back-up slots. Ideally, Newcastle will uncover another young prospect in the vein of Krul, who is available for a comparatively smaller fee, who can develop at the club before eventually making the step-up, but also with the necessary ability level to be called upon to fill in for Krul if necessary. That might well be the most difficult prospect chief scout Graham Carr currently faces, and there may be some reservations about letting Steve Harper leave as a result.