Newcastle warned not to point finger at Joelinton – but lack of ruthlessness is "killing" them

Jamaal Lascelles has warned a lack of “ruthlessness” is “killing” Newcastle – but says fans can’t “just point finger” at Joelinton.

Steve Bruce’s strike force is misfiring with just six goals in ten league games this season.

That’s despite spending £85m in the past nine months on new forwards including £40m Joelinton who has scored just once.

Last January’s big buy, £20m Miguel Almiron, has yet to score or make a goal but is having an impact with his work-rate.

Summer recruit Alain Saint-Maximin is making quick counter attacks, highlighted by rivals as Newcastle’s main threat.

Skipper Lascelles said: “We need to be more ruthless. Have more nous. Be more streetwise. Little things. That is what is killing us.

“Goals don’t just come from one striker. You can’t pressure just one person. He needs service.

“He needs support and people allowing him to get in to good positions and runners off him. It is a team thing, not just the attackers. We are not pointing fingers at anyone.”

Boss Bruce admits Newcastle are in a relegation fight, but says that is the same as the last few seasons.

The most worrying statistic for Newcastle is their lack of goals and creativity which leaves them vulnerable – despite pre-season talk of a more open playing style.

Lascelles said: “We have to look at ourselves and see what we can do different. Go for another goal, squeeze up and get more passes together?

“We gave away a really sloppy goal against Wolves . I wish we had stayed in the game. We need to look at it this week to see how we can manage the game a bit more, to do something different to what we did.

“I am pleased to score but I only really care about three points.

“I am confident (they can improve). We have played some good stuff and we have quality in the team, but it is about playing together.”

Bruce signed Andy Carroll on a free in the summer but he is injured, with Dwight Gayle coming back to fitness.

He said: “If you look at the Premier League, two or three points separates 11 teams. I always classed ourselves as one of those ten or 11 teams.

“We’ve tried to be a little bit more open. Is it a mentality thing? Possibly. But we have to try to change that mentality.

“You can talk about changes (to the team), but I always thought if anyone was going to create anything, it was (Saint-Maximin) or Almiron. There’s that conundrum that obviously I faced. Dwight was obviously available, but that’s what we have at the minute.”