Newcastle’s Wijnaldum demands attacking improvement

Georginio Wijnaldum admits Newcastle have not been good enough in attack and accepts more creativity is needed if they are to arrest a four-match goalless run.

Steve McClaren’s side sit at the bottom of the Premier League table having gained only two points from their opening five games. Since a 2-2 draw with Southampton on the opening weekend, the Magpies have failed to find the target and their performance in the 2-0 defeat at West Ham has provoked widespread criticism.

Wijnaldum was one of four attacking signings made by McClaren, with Aleksandar Mitrovic and Florin Thauvin also arriving during the summer. But the Dutchman has echoed Daryl Janmaat’s plea for more creativity, starting with Saturday’s home clash with Watford.

“It seems like a long time ago [that we scored], because it was a long time ago,” Wijnaldum told The Chronicle.

“We have to fight hard and make more goals and chances. If we don’t start doing this we can’t win games.

“In the final third we know we have to create more because two goals in five games is not a lot.

“We created a few [chances at West Ham], but compared to previous games we know we need to create more. We didn’t score and from the first half that is the only thing we were disappointed about.

“The second half was not good overall. We began the second half by conceding a goal. After that we didn’t do enough to fix it.”

Wijnaldum accepts the Upton Park defeat was an “off day” and wants his team-mates to rediscover the spirit they showed to draw at Manchester United and push Arsenal hard despite being reduced to 10 man early on.

“We have to go back to the way we were playing,” Wijnaldum added.

“It was an off day [against West Ham]. The good thing with the Premier League is that there are so many games.

“You can quickly show how good you are.”