Eddie Howe admitted Newcastle United is still searching for an "X-factor" in attack but said it was unfair to compare record signing Nick Woltemade with former striker Alexander Isak.

Newcastle United's head coach Eddie Howe (front) celebrates with the cup after the English Football League Cup Final match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC in London, Britain, on March 16, 2025. (Xinhua)

Newcastle has scored only three times in their opening five Premier League matches, with only Aston Villa managing fewer. Howe said the squad was still settling after a summer that saw Isak complete a British record move to Liverpool, while Woltemade and Yoane Wissa arrived late in the transfer window.

"We have had the biggest change to the squad in my time here," Howe said. "In an ideal world, you have a full six-week preseason, you iron out any issues you have and you're forming your partnerships and team relationships. Then, as you start the season, they're formed. We're in that position now where we are going to have to do that as we play. I've got no issue doing that. I've done it before."

Wissa, a 55-million-pound signing from Brentford, suffered a knee injury on international duty and is expected to be sidelined until after the next international break. Woltemade, who scored on his debut against Wolves, is adapting to the physical demands of the Premier League after playing his entire career in Germany.

Howe said he "didn't think any comparison to Alex is favorable to any player." "I'm excited by the team we can be," he added. "We have certainly got things to learn about each other and formulas to try and generate that we know will work.

"The biggest thing is the foundation is solid. The team's playing at strength, but we're just missing that X-factor that I think will come."