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By CRAIG HOPE Published: 05: 01 AEDT, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 05: 03 AEDT, 2 December 2024 3 View comments How ever they do it - sell to buy or buy and worry about selling later - Newcastle need to bring in a player next month who can help them score goals. Help them shoot, even. At Selhurst Park, Eddie Howe’s side were somehow 60 seconds from victory without having had a shot on, or off, target. It was not unjust when Daniel Munoz rescued a home point in the 94th minute. ‘There is no ban on shooting, ’ Howe later said. He must hope the club’s hierarchy find a way around PSR restrictions, too. Not just to add some attacking purpose, but to enthuse those already in situ. Stars such as Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon have watched two windows pass by without the starting XI being improved. From an aggressive, front-foot side who scored goals for fun - 85 last season - none of this looks much fun right now. Every conceivable attacking metric is down on previous years under Howe, goals scored chief among them. Their final ball is invariably poor and, when it isn’t, there is no-one there to convert. There weren’t any chances to miss against Palace. Eddie Howe has bemoaned his Newcastle side's struggles in front of goal after drawing against Crystal Palace Alexander Isak failed to score in the 1-1 draw as Newcastle rarely crafted goalscoring opportunities Summer target Marc Guehi scored Newcastle’s only goal when putting through his own net, but a centre-back is no longer their priority.   A right-winger - a position neglected in three years of Saudi ownership - must be sourced. If not a right-winger, then a No. 10. That would require a change of system from Howe, but the current approach has them stuck in mid-table, so maybe it’s worth a try. Either way, the head coach and his players need help, and it is on those above them to provide it.   Sporting director Paul Mitchell cannot say the January window does not belong to him, like he did the summer fiasco.   Forget buying for tomorrow, too. Newcastle need to buy for today. If not, all the good work of yesterday is in danger of being eroded, much like the team’s confidence. Newcastle should target bringing in a new right-winger in January to add to the goal threat provided by Anthony Gordon (left) Palace defender Marc Guehi (right) scored an own goal to help Newcastle take a point away from Selhurst Park Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson 6; Chalobah 5. 5 (Schlupp 84), Lacroix 6, Guehi 6; Munoz 7. 5, Hughes 5. 5 (Nketiah 77, 5), Lerma 6, Mitchell 6; Sarr 7, Eze 6 (Devenny 65); Mateta 6 Subs not used: Turner, Ward, Kporha, Doucoure, Clyne, Richards Manager: Oliver Glasner 6 Goal: Munoz 90+4 Booked: Lerma, Mitchell, Guehi Newcastle (4-3-3): Pope 6. 5; Livramento 5. 5, Schar 6, Burn 7, Hall 6. 5; Guimaraes 6, Tonali 7, Willock 5 (Longstaff 75, 5. 5); Gordon 6 (Wilson 75, 6), Isak 5 (Barnes 22, 5. 5), Joelinton 5 Subs not used: Dubravka, Almiron, Murphy, Kelly, Osula, Trippier Manager: Eddie Howe 5. 5 Goal: Guehi OG 53 Booked: Gordon, Willock, Wilson Ref: D England 7 MOM: Munoz Howe is the right man and they have a lot of the right players, but they have been doing the same thing together for so long that their muscle memory is jaded. There is a remedy to that, of course, and because of PSR the club will have to be inventive. But invention is what they so badly need on the pitch, a new face to help restore smiles to the long ones whose season is starting to feel like a drag. A January signing is one target they have to hit. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group