Newcastle United supporters in the Transfer Tavern were drowning their sorrows in the first few weeks of the season, but they are very much in high spirits now following their side’s third successive victory.

Rafa Benitez’s men were beaten by Tottenham and Huddersfield Town in their opening two games of the campaign to underline the task they’ve got upon their return to the Premier League, but a 3-0 success over West Ham got them back on the right path, which they continued upon thanks to a 1-0 win at Swansea City last week.

And the North East giants continued their resurgence with a fine 2-1 victory over Stoke City on Saturday, a match that saw boss Benitez return to the dugout after he missed the Swansea win having had an operation.

Much was made of Newcastle’s transfer window as well over the summer as the club only added six new faces, only one of which (Joselu) was a striker.

And many Magpies fans in the Tavern feel that their club could be slightly short in the attacking department as the season wears on, and so here are FIVE strikers the North East giants should already be targeting ready for the reopening of the transfer window in January…

Ashley Barnes

The summer arrivals of Jon Walters, Chris Wood, and Nahki Wells has thrown Ashley Barnes’ Burnley future into huge doubt, although manager Sean Dyche said on Wednesday that the club received no bids for the striker during the summer, and weren’t looking to sell him anyway.

Yet with no Premier League starts to his name so far this season, the 27-year-old looks to be quite a way down the pecking order at Turf Moor, but with six goals and three assists for the Clarets last season, he can clearly do a job at Premier League level.

Thus, Newcastle must look to land the striker in January, as he’d certainly bolster the ranks at St James’ Park, and he could indeed draw upon last term’s survival mission with Burnley to aid the Magpies with their own this time round.

Shane Long

Manolo Gabbiadini’s arrival at Southampton back in January plunged Shane Long even further down the pecking order at St Mary’s.

The Republic of Ireland international has been at the South Coast outfit since 2014 but in the last few years has struggled to nail down a first team spot, with just ten of his 32 Premier League appearances last term being starts.

Nonetheless, the 30-year-old is a nightmare to defend against and will lead from the front, and could be exactly what Newcastle need going forward in the second half of the season.

Troy Deeney

Watford striker Troy Deeney has yet to start a Premier League game under Marco Silva this season, earning just 13 minutes of action in the league in the Hornets’ excellent start to the campaign.

Any concerns about the 29-year-old’s recent injury were banished when he played the full 90 minutes against Bristol City in the Carabao Cup on August 22, and that may suggest that he is no longer first-choice at Vicarage Road despite seven years of service to the club.

And if he remains on the peripheries, Newcastle must look to land him in January as Deeney has proven his capabilities at top-flight level with his power and strength, while he also has a keen eye for goal with 23 goals in his last two full seasons in the Premier League.

He would certainly bolster Benitez’s ranks at St James’ Park.

Oumar Niasse

Oumar Niasse remains on the peripheries at Everton despite making a big-money move to Goodison Park back in 2016.

The 27-year-old has played just seven times for Ronald Koeman’s side since moving from Lokomotiv Moscow in February 2016, with much of his time spent in the development squad at the Merseyside outfit.

Yet his loan spell at Hull City last season, in which he scored four goals in 17 games, underlined his prowess at this level – prowess which could seriously benefit Newcastle in the second half of the season.

Daniel Sturridge

A long shot perhaps, but Newcastle should be targeting a move for Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge.

The 28-year-old has struggled for regular first team football since Jurgen Klopp took over at Anfield back in October 2015, earning just 20 Premier League appearances last season, and just two from their four games this term.

But with a World Cup approaching, Sturridge will be well aware that he needs to be playing regularly to get into Gareth Southgate’s England squad, and that could suit Newcastle right down to the ground as they could offer him that, and at a high enough level.

It’s a move Benitez and the Magpies hierarchy must look to get done in January.