Jermaine Jenas: I’d like to see Lingard, Henderson and Dunk at Newcastle next

Former Newcastle midfielder Jermaine Jenas has told us that while their new arrivals are good signings, the Magpies still need more additions during the January transfer window and would like to see Jesse Lingard, Dean Henderson and Lewis Dunk brought in.

Since being taken over in October, much of the talk around Newcastle has centred around possible incomings, and the former England international believes the club’s first two arrivals, Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood, will prove to be good additions to the squad.

“I think both are good signings,” Jenas told us. “I know Kieran Trippier relatively well from his time at Spurs and I know what he’s about in terms of his mentality and what he’ll bring to the dressing room. He’s got the experience, characteristics and qualities you are going to need when you’re in a situation like Newcastle are in, so I think it’s a huge signing.

“With the Chris Wood signing, it feels like a six-month signing to me. I think it’s one of those scenarios when it’s a win-win for everybody in that Newcastle are getting a good character, who has been at a club who do things the right way and whose players know what a relegation battle is like.

“I don’t see the relationship lasting longer than six months because long-term Chris Wood is not where Newcastle want to be, but I think he’ll really enjoy the experience and the fans will really like having him.”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has gone on record that the north-east club need a number of new faces in order to avoid relegation and Jenas hopes that further incomings will follow Trippier and Wood this month.

“The initial plan is very rushed but it’s clear they are just thinking what can we do to survive? These two signings are a good start, but I would still like to see a centre-half come through the door and possibly a goalkeeper. Potentially also an attacking midfield player who takes the weight off a few others. If I was in charge, those are the three areas I’d be looking at.”

A myriad of names have been linked with Howe’s side and Jenas hopes the likes of Henderson, Lingard and Dunk are on his list of potential targets.

He said: “I would really like to test Dean Henderson and Manchester United’s resolve. He must be really frustrated to have no football in a year where we’ve got a World Cup and I’d be interested to see if United would be open to anything. I’d also be looking at Jesse Lingard because there are no winners in his current scenario. Surely if he could get some games under his belt for the rest of the season and show everyone how good he is, he would. He’s almost the perfect fit in my opinion for Newcastle right now.”

He added: “Lewis Dunk is an interesting one because he’s at that stage of his career when he could just stay at Brighton his whole life, but I do think he’s in the mould of player Newcastle should be looking at. They’re not going to go and get superstars right now as I don’t see why that sort of individual would go to Newcastle right now knowing they could get relegated into the Championship. Short-term signings, with Premier League experience, are the ones who are going to keep them in the league.”

And while Jenas believes a couple of new players will see the Magpies survive, he does believe that there are more than just four sides in danger of being relegated.

He said: “I think they’ve put themselves in a very good position [to survive]. If they beat Watford this weekend they go above them in the table and I think there are more clubs involved in this relegation battle than meets the eye. Leeds, I don’t think are anywhere near out of it, and Brentford have had a bit of a turn, so I think Newcastle, with these new signings, if they can pick up a few points, they can drag a lot of teams into it. I definitely believe if they can make one or two more (signings) they’ll get out of it.”

Jenas knows Newcastle and their new owners will be hoping they stay up, but he does think it won’t be the end of the world if they do drop down to the Championship.

“It brings a little bit of calm to the situation,” Jenas said. “The owners are learning on the job and they are very new to this whole process, so while getting relegated would be a disaster for the fans and the club, from the owner’s point of view, I’d hope that it will give them an opportunity to take stock and decide what they want Newcastle to become.

“They’ll be able to learn a lot about the football club during a year in the Championship in that they’ll begin to find out what the club needs and the best way to move it forward, so I don’t think it would be a disaster if they went down.”

Newcastle face Watford in a huge clash on Saturday and their former midfielder feels the game with Claudio Ranieri’s side is a must-win.

He said: “You can’t lose that game. You have to win it if you have any aspirations of staying up. They’re at that stage of the season where I don’t think a draw warrants what they need. If Newcastle can beat both Watford and Leeds, they can drag others into this relegation battle. Both those sides are there for the taking in terms of being pulled into the scrap and that’s what Eddie Howe will be telling his players.”