Newcastle's next matchday squad could be very interesting

Newcastle United's summer recruitment could well be thrown into the spotlight when the Magpies take on Arsenal after the international break.

And while Bruno Guimaraes' return to Tyneside for the first time since his £75million move in the summer will dominate the pre-match narrative, it is not Newcastle's decision to sell their talismanic former captain that will be brought under the spotlight.

Rather, the decision to splash up to £78million combined on 20-year-old youngsters Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure from Monaco and Hoffenheim respectively.

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Despite the Premier League season now being 10 games old, neither player has made their first league start for the Magpies yet with Bamba only being afforded 27 minutes of action so far.

Toure has started in the Carabao Cup win over West Brom and has two goals to his name so is perhaps a little further on than Bamba in his development in that regard.

But after Bamba suffered the indignity of not being named in the matchday squad at all for the first time this season in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Fulham, Toure must surely fear he will follow suit against the Gunners.

With Joelinton (injured) and Jacob Ramsey (suspended) the only two outfield players to miss the trip to West London, Jaissle will have a big decision on his hands over who else drops out against the Gunners should one or both of those players return to fitness and the rest of the squad come through the international break unscathed.

Toure was an unused substitute at Craven Cottage and was the only outfield player among the subs not to have made a league start this season. Should there be a casualty from that squad, the Ivorian international is in prime position to drop out.

Jaissle has repeatedly said both players need time to adapt to the rigours of Premier League football and for patience while they do so. But it is hard to see when they will get enough match exposure to do so and should it be those two players who drop out of the squad it will be an embarrassing look for the summer recruitment.

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These aren't academy graduates dropping out of the squad, these are players who cost £34.5million from Monaco in Bamba's case and £43million from Hoffenheim in Toure's case, and while you can't deem signings unsuccessful three months into a season, it is hard to ponder whether that money could have been spent better elsewhere.

The pair will hook up with their respective national sides this week with France u21s (Bamba) and Ivory Coast (Toure) both having two matches which will provide an opportunity to build some match sharpness and some confidence.

It is also a chance to change Jaissle's mind and perhaps force their way back into his plans ahead of a busy run of fixtures to close out 2026. Should they not take that chance it will be very interesting to see how all parties react to a situation nobody would have seen unfold in the summer.