Newcastle United head into the October international break with mixed emotions after a stop-start beginning to their Premier League campaign that has left them seven points behind Arsenal. Former manager Alan Pardew has now made a bold statement about Eddie Howe’s side that has caught the attention of fans and pundits across England.

It has taken a little while – and a dollop of angst – but Eddie Howe's side are clicking up front without their former star striker

Newcastle had not long been taken over by a Saudi-led consortium in a £305m deal which was opposed by human rights campaigners. The club had been dubbed the richest in the world by outsiders, but the reality on the ground was rather different as they battled relegation.

Newcastle United signed Nick Woltemade this summer as a response to the departure of Alexander Isak, who signed for Liverpool.

Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade fired Newcastle United to victory against Nottingham Forest to maintain the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Ter Stegen, 33, is currently sidelined with a back injury but is expected to make a full recovery before the end of November. His situation at Barcelona has become increasingly uncertain under Hansi Flick, who made Joan García his first-choice goalkeeper earlier in the summer.