When Alexander Isak fell to the ground for the third time in just a few minutes, it became clear that the striker's afternoon was over almost before it had begun during Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The Swedish forward suffered a painful knock to his hip in an early collision with Tyrick Mitchell at Selhurst Park, and by the 22nd minute, he had taken his place on the substitutes' bench.

Despite having two centre-forwards available, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe chose neither as a replacement. Instead, Harvey Barnes was introduced in an unfamiliar role on the right wing, while Anthony Gordon was once again shifted into a new position, this time leading the attack.

Barnes, a £39m signing and the Magpies’ joint top scorer in the league this season, has struggled to replicate his early form, scoring just once since late September. Typically deployed on the left flank, the former Leicester City player was forced to operate on the opposite side of the pitch, limiting his effectiveness.

Newcastle’s attacking woes were evident in the match statistics. The team managed only one off-target shot and relied on a Marc Guehi own goal for their solitary moment of celebration. Alarmingly, the Magpies have now gone three consecutive halves of football without recording a shot on target.

Callum Wilson eventually entered the match in the second half, but the striker is still working his way back to full fitness after a prolonged injury absence. Meanwhile, 21-year-old William Osula remained on the bench, as Howe explained that a combination of inexperience and fitness concerns influenced his decision-making. These constraints left Howe with limited options, forcing him to turn to Barnes—a decision that underscores the challenges Newcastle currently face in attack.

“It was a difficult situation for Callum today,” Howe explained after the match. “He’s had very little time in training, and I need to be extremely careful not to push him too hard and risk losing him again. The plan before the match was for him to play 20 to 30 minutes, as he did against West Ham.

“So, I decided to put Anthony up front. He’s done an excellent job in that position for us previously, and I thought he performed well today. The lack of goalscoring opportunities isn’t down to him—it’s a team issue, and we need to do better collectively.”

Osula, who has made just a 10-minute appearance in the Premier League since joining Newcastle, has shown potential in cup competitions and friendly matches. Although he was signed as a long-term prospect, Newcastle could desperately use a fully fit and experienced forward during this challenging period.

“I think there’s always a developmental process when a player signs, particularly someone as young as Will,” Howe said of Osula during his pre-match press conference. “He has a lot of work ahead of him to become the player he aspires to be, but he’s fully committed to that journey. His attitude and willingness to embrace coaching have been outstanding.”

Newcastle’s current struggles in front of goal underline their dependence on Isak and Wilson’s fitness. As Howe navigates this difficult period, the team must rediscover their attacking edge to sustain their ambitions in the league.