I saw Newcastle United trying to solve problem Eddie Howe wants fixed after behind the scenes work

Newcastle United, by their usual standards, have been struggling for goals this season. The Magpies may have put three beyond Nottingham Forest over the weekend but October brought just three goals in five games across league and cup competitions.

Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes have four apiece thus far, while Anthony Gordon has netted twice since his spell at the Euros with England. Newcastle's goals from midfield continue to be thin on the ground, however.

Joelinton was responsible for one of those aforementioned three strikes at the City Ground on Sunday as the Brazilian doubled his tally for the campaign with a confident run and finish in front of a buoyant Newcastle away end. Eddie Howe, however, wants more.

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“He has those mental qualities that he wants to win everything he does. He will try his best. But I want more from him. I think he can get more goals," Howe said of the midfielder in the aftermath of the 3-1 win.

Newcastle's lack of goals from their midfield is no new phenomena. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley - and Joelinton - are all fine players but they likely won't net you 10+ goals a season - and Howe is trying to change this.

Willock could be seen marauding down Newcastle's left flank with intent at Forest and has enjoyed three impressive performances in and around the final third in recent weeks. It was clear to see that despite being tasked with offering defensive support to Lewis Hall and interchanging with the left-sided central midfielder, Howe is attempting to improve his output in the final third.

Willock helped Axel Disasi head into his own goal in the recent cup win over Chelsea, while he was unlucky not to find the net against his former club Arsenal just days later as he fended off William Saliba in front of the Leazes End.

Guimaraes also fancied getting himself among the goals in the most recent win on the road. The midfielder tested Matz Sels in the first-half with an ambitious, left-footed effort from the edge of the box, while the second-half brought an audacious attempt with the outside of his boot from a similar distance. The Brazilian was in the mood as he attempted to net at the City Ground for the second year running.

Guimaraes' position in the side is all but assured each and every week given he now holds the armband but Howe and his coaching staff are working with the South American star behind the scenes to improve his attacking exploits.

The same can be said for Sean Longstaff, who has mastered the art of arriving late in the penalty area in recent seasons. He has been the most frequent scorer of the midfield contingent since Howe arrived but the goals have dried up of late - his last coming back in May.

Joelinton will likely find himself occupying a role in the front three, rather than in the centre of the pitch, going forward and after being signed as a £40m striker, Howe will have high hopes that he can chip in with a fair share of strikes alongside Gordon and Isak. The work has been done behind the scenes and it was refreshing to see a clear plan to add goals from other areas of the pitch as Newcastle picked up a huge win away from St James' Park.