Andy Carroll is Steve Bruce’s only available striker with the Newcastle boss braced for bad news on an injury to Dwight Gayle.
The club are also not commenting on the absence of club-record signing Joelinton and fellow forward Yoshinori Muto from their training camp in York.
It means Carroll, 31, is the only frontman currently training with the squad just over two weeks from the start of the Premier League season.
He scored a fine goal during Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Crewe but that was marred by a knee injury to Gayle and he will have a scan on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage.
Bruce must now prioritise the signing of a striker ahead of their season opener at West Ham, where Carroll looks the most likely starter against his former club as things stand.
Newcastle’s four strikers scored just six league goals between them last season and Bruce knows it is the one area in need of urgent reinforcement.
Sources close to Japan striker Muto say the club have been trying to move him on and his future would appear to be away from St James' Park.
