Newcastle United's £200m+ attacking duo have been called the club's biggest disappointments after underwhelming in the season opener at St James' Park. Speaking on a podcast, a former player criticised their lack of tenacity and intensity, saying they've been 'too nice' and need to 'start playing sooner or later' to avoid criticism. Despite their slow start, he expressed faith in their ability, citing past performances at Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, and urged them to show more urgency.

The comments come as both players returned to Tyneside for the first time since their high-profile moves, with one playing the full 90 minutes and the other substituted after 60 minutes. The former player highlighted the £125m investment in one of them and stressed the need for improvement, noting they've had a 'free ride' and must now deliver on their potential. He believes they can rediscover form with time and support, but insists immediate progress is essential to justify the outlay and silence critics.