Newcastle‘s midfield has been weakened by the departure of Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham this month in a deal price as much as £100m.
Young midfielders Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba have since arrived from Ajax and Monaco respectively.
Although Saturday’s sport got here too quickly for Bamba, whose move was announced on Friday, Steur performed 90 minutes.
“He played really well today,” Howe mentioned. “He might be actually happy along with his efficiency and first displaying in Newcastle colors.”
It is uncommon for an academy graduate to depart Ajax at 18, and for a price price as much as £23m.
However, Newcastle need to take calculated dangers earlier than potential signings like Steur doubtlessly explode in worth and are out of attain.
Dutchman Steur clearly has promise.
Willem Weijs, who managed Steur at Jong Ajax – the membership’s reserve facet – has described him as “one of the highest-rated” gamers of their academy.
There have been glimpses of Steur’s technical potential, composure and imaginative and prescient towards National League facet Gateshead.
But he’ll want time to adapt to the physicality and depth of the Premier League.
“He’s outstanding in his first touches and creating options when playing a possession game,” Weijs mentioned.
“He’s good at scanning; really comfortable on the ball; really good in tight spaces.
“He’s a typical Dutch-type midfield participant, however he ought to focus on his factors to develop as nicely, which is for positive the defensive half.
“He should compete better in the duels, spending much more time in the gym. I know he’s working on that, but he can improve and he has to improve.”
Newcastle have shifted technique this summer time, focusing on gamers aged 20 and beneath and based mostly on the continent.
Steur, Bamba and fellow newcomers Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure will want persistence.
It is likely one of the many the explanation why Howe will desperately need to preserve maintain of Guimaraes, having misplaced Isak, Tonali and Anthony Gordon up to now yr.
“We all need to be very supportive to the players that have come in,” Howe mentioned.
“I don’t think we can put too much pressure on them. It’s part of my job to try and take the pressure off them and allow them to develop and to enjoy their time here.”
