The source of Newcastle's difficulties this season is unquestionably their lack of scoring power. In 21 league games so far this season, they have scored only 22 goals - leaders Manchester United have scored 51 and second-placed Chelsea 49. The ageing John Barnes, acquired from Liverpool on a free transfer, is, with Faustino Asprilla (left), the club's leading scorer with six goals, John Beresford, a full back, was making the early running. Jon Dal Tomasson, bought in the summer, has failed miserably in front of goal after a prolific pre-season.

It remains an astonishing fact that, if and when Asprilla leaves, Newcastle will have sold six goalscorers worth a staggering £19.5 million in 18 months since Alan Shearer's arrival for the start of the 1996-'97 season. The figure is more than Shearer cost when he became the world's most expensive footballer following his £15 million move from Blackburn. Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley, Darren Huckerby, David Ginola, Paul Kitson and now Asprilla have all been pointed towards the exit door. That's why - whether Shearer is ready to return or not - it seems inconceivable that Dalglish will fail to sign a striker replacement.

Everton's Gary Speed (top right), hardly a prolific goalscorer, seems to be top of Dalglish's shopping list, while the Republic of Ireland's West Brom winger Kevin Kilbaine (bottom right) has also been watched by the club recently. Newcastle supporters will hope that reports of Shearer's imminent return - possibly on the subs' bench against Bolton tomorrow - prove reliable.