Jaissle explains Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure's lack of game time

In a summer of change and plenty of spending, Newcastle dropped a combined £77m on Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure.

Both signed while Eddie Howe was still in charge, but featured heavily over pre-season and remain ideal fits for the new transfer strategy in place. 

However, it's been noted just how little the 20-year-old duo have featured in our opening five games, with Matthias Jaissle asked about their lack of minutes in Thursday's press conference.

Toure and Bamba just need time - Jaissle

Matthias Jaissle insists that Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba need time, not pressure, as young new signings still settling into the squad.

Bamba has managed just 14 minutes of competitive football so far, while Toure has played 45 minutes against West Brom after a one-minute cameo at Spurs.

But Jaissle is happy with the pair, supporting them behind the scenes and aware that they may have to be patient, with Harvey Barnes' form currently keeping Toure out of the side, for example.

“Bazou (Toure), it's really clear. He's a young lad, came as a new signing and he's doing a great job. You see the steps now in training, he's really committed.

“It's sometimes in football that if you have other players performing as well on a really high level, like Harvey [Barnes] at the moment, then you're getting a little bit less playing time. 

"But we said that from the beginning, especially for the young lads and the new signings, that we give them time.

“It's the same with AB [Aladji Bamba] for instance. We're not pushing, especially not externally, pushing them in getting more minutes. It's normal progress and we're supporting them to getting there.”

Bamba's battle and Barnes' form

For Bamba, he's in area of the pitch where Newcastle have no shortage of depth; midfield.

The Frenchman is competing with Gonzalez, Miley, Ramsey, Steur and the injured Joelinton for minutes in a 4-2-3-1 system that only requires two midfielders. 

He’s still developing after his breakthrough season at Monaco, and it’s easy to forget that he and Toure are still only 20.

For Toure, he still has lots to learn defensively, but his biggest challenge is wrestling a starting spot from Barnes, who is currently our top scorer after three goals in our opening five games.