Newcastle: Brutally honest verdict emerges after £25m agreement

Transfer insider Dean Jones remains “sceptical” about Newcastle‘s January signing Chris Wood.

The striker made the £25m move from relegation rivals Burnley last month but is yet to get off the mark for the Toon Army.

On the whole, Newcastle’s five January additions have helped them move away from the bottom-three and collect 13 points from their last five Premier League games.

Bruno Guimaraes is still waiting for his first start for the Magpies, but Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett have all established themselves as regulars in Eddie Howe’s side.

Wood is also a near enough guaranteed starter, playing 90 minutes in each of his six top-flight games since swapping Turf Moor for St James’ Park.

But the New Zealand international is still waiting for his first goal in Newcastle colours and has gone more than 15 hours since he last found the net.

Despite his barren run, Wood has still been the Magpies’ fifth-best player this season according to Who Scored, even though he hasn’t directly contributed to a single goal. Wood averages more shots per 90 minutes (2.3) than any of his teammates and wins an incredible nine aerial duels every game, which is the best in the Premier League.

Regardless of his strengths, Jones is still not overly convinced by Wood, who’s had just three shots on target in more than nine hours of football for the Toon.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I’m not sure about Chris Wood, I was a bit sceptical of it when they signed him, and I remain sceptical of it now because Burnley have a better striker than Chris Wood, in Weghorst.”

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Wood has a proven record in the Premier League, with 50 goals in more than 150 appearances.

Therefore,