We can't afford to buy a striker! Eddie Howe opens up on Newcastle's forward woes after failing to break deadlock at Wolves

Eddie Howe suggested Newcastle do not have the financial power to bolster their attacking options in the January transfer window.

Newcastle huffed and puffed against Wolves and were held to a goalless draw against the Premier League ’s bottom side in a blow to their Champions League hopes.

Nick Woltemade, the £69million summer signing, struggled to have an impact and has now scored just three goals in his last 19 appearances while Yoane Wissa has just two goals as he struggles with injury after his £55m from Brentford .

When asked after the game at Molineux whether the Saudi-owned club would look to bolster the attacking line with any moves in January, Howe replied: ‘I don't think we have the financial ability to do that.’

That is in stark difference to his pre-match comments when he declared: ‘All I can assure everybody is that there is money to spend, the club are willing to spend it, it is not a case of holding anything back. Of course, we have to comply within the rules we know how important that is.’

Newcastle are keen to add some back-up defensive options with his backline currently decimated with injuries to Fabian Schar, Valentino Livramento, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles.

Eddie Howe has admitted that it is unlikely that Newcastle find a solution to their attacking issues in the transfer window

Newcastle Confidential reported this week that Newcastle want to sign a right-sided centre back with as much as £25m to spend if they can find the right player.

But it was in attack where Newcastle struggled to have any impact against Wolves as they failed to score in their sixth away game out of 11 in the league this season.

‘We needed to do more in attack,’ said Howe. ‘It’s not just about those two players, it is about the whole team in a game that we didn’t have enough goalmouth action. We know that there are loads of sources of goals. I was disappointed with our set plays. There were a couple of good moments but not enough. There’s too many crosses coming in, flashes across their goal and we didn’t have a player on the end of it.’

Howe also rejected the idea that he has too many ‘like-for-like’ options in attack, especially in wide areas, as they were left unable to break down a Wolves side that have conceded 41 goals this season.

‘We replaced a winger for a winger, they have different qualities all of them,’ said Howe. ‘Whether it is Harvey Barnes or the two Anths (Gordon and Elanga), Jacob Murphy when he is fit, they all have different attributes. You saw Anthony Elanga come on today. I thought he did really well and I was really happy with him.

‘He gives us a totally different threat to somebody who plays in that position. I think you can say that for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

‘They are two totally different strikers but they will both be labelled a striker. So that is the squad we have got.

‘And I am really proud to manage this group of players. I don't think our attacking output today was good enough.’