Eddie Howe did not hold back. Having already lamented how his substitutions did not make a 'positive impact', following a 4-1 defeat against Bournemouth, the Newcastle United boss doubled down. "When we made the changes, I don’t think our performance improved," he admitted. "That was a frustration."

Howe has repeatedly stressed there are 'not huge numbers' in his squad and that was apparent at the weekend. With leggy Newcastle 2-1 down at St James' Park, Howe lacked genuine game-changers in reserve and the two of the first three players to be introduced from the bench were defenders. It was rather telling that Howe did not even make all five of his permitted changes.

Newcastle were admittedly unable to call upon the absent Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson, but the black-and-whites still had more options compared to injury-hit Bournemouth. Only one of Bournemouth's substitutes was over the age of 21 and that was Mark Travers, who was one of two goalkeepers named among the substitutes. The outfielders on Bournemouth's bench had previously made just 10 senior competitive appearances combined for the club.

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Newcastle were able to call upon a lot more experience, but those on the bench on Saturday had been directly involved in just four goals in the Premier League this season. For context, defenders Fabian Schar and Lloyd Kelly accounted for three-quarters of those goal involvements (as starters). Only Joe Willock had previously contributed an assist as a substitute this season and, even then, the word assist might be a stretch after the midfielder played the final pass before Harvey Barnes unleashed a thunderbolt at Wolves back in September.

Among those who were named on the bench against Bournemouth were Miguel Almiron, who has made just one league start in 10 months, while William Osula has yet to start a top-flight fixture for Newcastle or been afforded a substantial cameo from the bench in the Premier League. Trippier, Sean Longstaff and Willock, meanwhile, had not lined up from the off in the league for several weeks; Kelly has not started a top-flight fixture since November; and you have to go back nearly a year for the last time the gifted Lewis Miley took his place in the starting XI in the league.

Howe has understandably been reluctant to change a winning team, but there have been few genuine selection dilemmas of late. Martin Dubravka, Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak started at least eight of Newcastle's nine victories during a club-record equalling winning streak over the course of 32 days and the octet all lined up against Bournemouth.

Were there viable options to freshen it up? In truth, Miley apart, the majority of those who came into a much-changed side against Bromley did not exactly stake a claim eight days ago. The team has effectively picked itself in the league and the bench has been used to give the starters a breather with Newcastle in command as much as it has to change matches in recent weeks.

Dig deeper and the numbers do not lie. Newcastle's substitutes have scored just two goals in the Premier League all season whereas Bournemouth's have bagged 11. For context, only Everton and Crystal Palace's replacements have popped up with fewer goals than Newcastle. What a contrast to last year when Newcastle led the way in the top-flight with 14 goals from the bench.

It is worth noting that Newcastle's substitutes have contributed five assists - who could forget how Harvey Barnes set up Gordon's equaliser at Bournemouth in August or how Jacob Murphy teed up Alexander Isak's winner against Spurs? - while those in reserve certainly played their part in digging in and helping the Magpies over the line against Arsenal a couple of weeks ago. However, as Newcastle face up to the prospect of a third straight window without strengthening the starting line-up, the black-and-whites are having to continue to rely on a core group of players who can go toe-to-toe with anyone on their day. Beyond that? This squad looks in need of help.