Jarrod Bowen’s Hull heroics make Newcastle’s struggles even more frustrating

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Newcastle United were reportedly keen on Jarrod Bowen but refused to pay the £20m Hull City wanted.

Newcastle United scouted two players during a pre-season friendly between Hull City and Angers at the end of July, according to the Chronicle.

But, while they eventually completed a deal for Swedish right-back Emil Krafth on transfer deadline day, Jarrod Bowen remained on Humberside.

A prolific young forward who caught Steve Bruce’s eye during his mixed managerial reign at the KCom Stadium, Bowen exploded onto the main stage last season with 22 goals in 45 Championship starts.

He has picked up where he left off too. Bowen has hit the net in each of his last two games while producing Man of the Match displays against Reading and Brentford.

But, while the 22-year-old goes from strength to strength, Newcastle continue to look toothless, goal-shy and lacking any sort of inspiration in the final third as the pressure rises on the much-maligned Bruce.

They drew a blank on the opening day against Newcastle and were comfortably outplayed and outgunned during a 3-1 defeat to newly-promoted Norwich on Saturday. To make matters worse, new £40 million signing Joelinton missed a first-half sitter at 0-0.

And claims from The Chronicle that Newcastle backed away from Bowen after being quoted £20 million, half the fee they paid for the relatively untested Joelinton, will be brought into sharp focus if Bruce fails once again to get a tune out of an expensively assembled attack away at Tottenham on Sunday.