Newcastle have found it difficult to score in the Premier League this season.
Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has claimed that Newcastle United’s difficulties in front of goal this season are down to the major difference in quality between the Premier League and the Championship.
While Newcastle have fared rather well overall this season, they have lost their last three Premier League games and have scored just once across those fixtures.
Newcastle have found the net on only eleven occasions in the Premier League this campaign and Shelvey has called for his team to improve.
As reported by Shields Gazette, Shelvey said: “The players are a lot more tactically aware in this league, and it’s a lot harder than the Championship.
“You probably get a lot more time on the ball, but the defenders are in better positions, so it’s a lot harder to create chances and score chances.
“At the end of the day, we’re doing all right. We probably just need to score a few more goals. It isn’t just down to the attacking players, either. You need to chip in with goals from all over the pitch.”
Newcastle’s goalscoring struggles are perhaps best summed up by the fact that centre-back Jamaal Lascelles is the club’s joint-top scorer across all competitions this season with two goals, along with striker Joselu.
It is clear that Benitez’s side need to be more prolific and it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if the club were to bring in a new striker when the transfer window re-opens in January.
Although their recent form has been concerning, Newcastle are in 11th place in the Premier League and will be determined to prevail in their next two fixtures, when they face Watford at home and West Bromwich Albion away.
Following that the Magpies have a challenging away fixture against Chelsea.
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