4. Squad Depth
This might seem like something of a cop-out, considering that this list is advocating strengthening the squad in general, but what Newcastle currently lack is a strong foundation of young players who will break into the first team in the next couple of years, especially after a good portion of the reserves were jettisoned at the end of the season. There are a few eye-catching youngsters currently on the books - Mehdi Abeid looks classy and will push for a regular place on the bench this term, Shane Ferguson always seems to impress, and the reserves feature two potentially outstanding talents in the shape of JJ Hooper and Remie Streete, but they aren't enough. The acquisition of Gael Bigirimana fits the bill here, and indeed Frenchman Romain Amalfitano has probably been brought in specifically to offer squad depth, but at the minute that is not yet enough. Newcastle can count on a marked increase in games this year if they progress in the Europa League competition, and with that will come more strains, more fatigue and consequently the need for more bodies to play.