Matthias Jaissle has promised an intense and aggressive Newcastle United, while acknowledging that the new era begins with a significant hole in the squad’s leadership.

Speaking at his formal introduction as Eddie Howe’s successor, the 38-year-old German said Newcastle were “in that transition phase” after the departures of several senior figures. Bruno Guimaraes, the club’s captain last season, has joined Arsenal, following the exits of Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali.

Newcastle remain optimistic over reinforcements

Jaissle said the club was targeting at least one full-back and an experienced midfielder, with another attacker also a possibility. Newcastle have already made five signings this summer, but none arrived during Jaissle’s first days in charge, apart from goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek being approved before his appointment.

“There will be adjustments in the squad,” Jaissle said. “We are aware of what we need in the squad, and we’re working on solutions.”

The need for defensive cover has been highlighted by injuries. Lewis Hall suffered a minor problem at the club’s Spanish training camp, while Tino Livramento is still recovering from muscle surgery. Alex Murphy has meanwhile been allowed to leave on loan for Kaiserslautern.

Jaissle described the loss of experienced players as a “vacuum”, but said the problem could be addressed either through new signings or by existing members of the squad accepting greater responsibility. Newcastle are considering a group of experienced midfielders that includes Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Joao Palhinha.

“Other players need to step up and fill these positions and these leadership roles,” Jaissle said. “I am quite optimistic that we can work with both scenarios.”

Woltemade given a fresh start

Jaissle has also made clear that Nick Woltemade will be given a clean slate. The Germany international made a strong start to his Newcastle career but endured a difficult first season after arriving in a club-record £64 million deal.

Woltemade was deployed as a No 10 in Jaissle’s first friendly, a win-orientated experiment that could offer a clue to how the new coach intends to use him. Jaissle said the forward should “leave the past behind” and that the coaching staff would work to find positions in which he and his teammates could perform at their best.

The Newcastle coach has also spoken with Sebastian Hoeness, his former boss and a close friend, about Woltemade’s development at Stuttgart. Jaissle stressed, however, that he wants to form his own assessment of the player.

Jaissle expects a learning curve on the touchline

While calm and measured in his first press conference, Jaissle acknowledged that his match-day behaviour is likely to attract attention. He is known for an emotional style that can see him move beyond the technical area and confront officials.

“I will not change my style, because that’s my personality,” he said. “On the touchline, I’m emotional, but I need to respect the box a bit more.”

Jaissle joked that his touchline GPS readings had been high during his time in Saudi Arabia and admitted he was “a bit scared” of adapting to Premier League expectations.

Patience before the noise

Newcastle’s stated ambition is to return to European competition, but Jaissle refused to set a precise public target for the 2026-27 season. After Newcastle finished 12th last season, he said progress would require a clear long-term vision and patience rather than promises.

“This will not happen overnight, especially when you have such a big transition phase now,” Jaissle said. “What we can control, we will control.”

The new coach said walking onto the pitch at St James’ Park had given him “goosebumps” and praised the welcome from supporters, who have already adapted the lyrics of Baccara’s “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” for him.

His first competitive test will come when Liverpool visit Newcastle on Sunday, August 23.