Newcastle United legend raises concerns over Eddie Howe tactical identity

Newcastle United icon Kevin Nolan believes that the Magpies are yet to demonstrate what type of a team they want to be this season.

Nolan has watched Newcastle closely this season and the former skipper feels that they may be better suited to playing on the counter attack. West Ham invited United on to them on Monday night and walked away with the points but Howe must decide what the approach will be now that Newcastle are back on the road at Crystal Palace.

Nolan told Five Live: "It's something which is going to be looked at by Newcastle fans - are they that counter-attacking team that prefers to play teams who are going to be on top of them, or can they break teams down? Because they really struggled in the second half once West Ham went 2-0 up.

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"I thought they tried to force things, they struggled to break them down and West Ham did well to keep the clean sheet."

The 2010 Championship winner with Newcastle Nolan netted 30 goals from midfield for Newcastle during a three year stint at St James' Park and feels that the current Toon side need to be more ruthless.

He added: "Newcastle missed big opportunities and that's what you need - when you're down there, struggling a bit and you haven't found your mojo, you need those moments of luck.

"Newcastle struggled to break them down in the second half, West Ham played the way they wanted to play and got a fantastic win."