Newcastle United travel to Manchester United when the Premier League returns this weekend.
To highlight this problem, Newcastle’s striker unit of Joselu, Ayoze Perez, Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic have four goals between them in 32 Premier League appearances this term.
Lawrenson feels that a lack of quality up top is holding this otherwise impressive Newcastle side back.
He wrote for BBC Sport: “Newcastle worked really hard when I watched them against Bournemouth I liked the way manager Rafael Benitez had them playing, but it is obvious they are lacking a top-class centre-forward.
“Dwight Gayle did well on the day but will he get them lots of goals in the Premier League? I wouldn’t think so, and I would say the same about Joselu. Again, Joselu actually played okay against the Cherries, but he did not really look like scoring.
“With both players, while you could not question their commitment at the top end of the pitch, you can clearly question their quality.”
The Magpies have failed to find the net in five of their 11 league matches since returning to the top flight, and centre-back Jamaal Lascelles is their joint top goalscorer with two goals.
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle will try to sign Liverpool’s Danny Ings on loan in January to improve their striking options. The 25-year-old has yet to start a match for the Reds this season after serious injury.
In the meantime, Rafael Benitez’s side travel to Manchester United on Saturday, and their blunt attack will come up against a Red Devils defence that has kept clean sheets in seven of their last eight home games.
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