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John Gibson

Newcastle United injury worries confirms thinking behind £60m transfer decision amid Liverpool test

United we stand. Divided you fall. However, when arguably Newcastle's three best players - all internationals - miss out it divides everyone from genuine winning hope.

Alexander Isak was prevented from starting at Molineux due to the lack of his work permit arriving while Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson were injury absentees.

Put another way, if Bruno and one of the strikers had started United would have won. No question in my opinion. They dominated possession, dominated the corner count, dominated Wolves yet never worked the keeper enough and needed a late, late equaliser to come up with the point that retained their unbeaten record.

The stats tell everything. United, the away side, had 64 per cent of possession to Wolves 36%, 21 shots to 10, and 13 corners to four for the home team.

READ MORE: Newcastle United notes: Elliot Anderson pushes for Liverpool start, Howe not accepting Wolves draw

Of course that team spirit, never-say-die attitude - unitedly standing together - eventually dug them out of a massive hole.

Why did United splash out a mighty £60m for Isak? Because Wilson is back sitting at home, hamstrung yet again, and a £25m centre-forward Chris Wood was so ineffective that he was hauled off on the hour mark even though it left United without a recognised line leader.

Allan Saint Maximin was utilised as a false nine and with only a minute of normal time left a player who had been only a shadow of the marauding master against Manchester City a week ago sparked into sensational life.

From 25 yards with the ball spiralling out of the Black Country sky Maxi lashed a right foot shot unerringly into the far corner of the net. Such technique, such confidence, such execution. A finish beyond Wood I am afraid.

Yet such are United's injury worries right now that Maxi was subbed before the final whistle holding his hamstring. Should he, Bruno, and Wilson all miss out at Liverpool on Wednesday night it would be another mountain to climb.

My heart went out to Elliot Anderson, still a teenager but mature beyond his years, who came on amid a welter of late substitutions by both sides and thought he had won it with a diving header that crashed back off the crossbar.

The match was highlighted by two super goals struck with great accuracy from long range first by Ruben Neves and then Maxi.

United were both lucky and unlucky when it came to official decisions. Lucky when the referee was sent to the monitor to check a foul on Ryan Fraser in the build up after Wolves thought they had gone two up. Raul Jimenez's effort was rightly ruled out.

However they were unlucky that the same monitor was not used first-half when United ought to have been awarded a penalty. Sean Longstaff's shirt was almost pulled off his back but nothing was given and as play went on Joe Willock missed a sitter not even troubling the keeper.

The current challenge facing Newcastle is like being confronted by a ladder, each rung bringing a higher standing. Newcastle's three-match road trip started at Tranmere, then called in to Wolverhampton, and finally finishes up at Liverpool. All inside a week. Merseyside to Merseyside.

An ominous sign for United? Liverpool are back at Anfield in 48 hours' time having returned to their ruthless best on Saturday, mind boggling 9-0 winners.

However let us not get too down - the opposition was only newly promoted Bournemouth who had already lost three at home to Arsenal and four at Manchester City and the hottest Red of the lot, Mo Salah, drew a blank!

READ NEXT

Aleksandar Isak poised for Newcastle United debut at Liverpool but Bruno Guimaraes a big doubt

Newcastle United transfers state of play: Howe preparing for more business after injuries hit

Nottingham Forest sign ex-Newcastle target Renan Lodi as transfer spree takes tally to 18 players

Jurgen Klopp tells Liverpool what they must do against Newcastle to follow up Bournemouth thrashing

'Made him look foolish' - Alexander Isak embarrassed team-mate but Newcastle star is no Zlatan

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