NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe admits he is 鈥渋mmune鈥� to critics following his Newcastle United side鈥檚 stuttering start to the 2023/24 campaign.

And the head coach insists the Magpies got things 鈥渞ight鈥� in the summer transfer window, despite doubters wondering whether their four additions have truly strengthened their starting XI.

Newcastle kicked off their campaign with a remarkable demolition job on Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League season. But that seems a lifetime ago for supporters, who have since seen the side beaten three times in a row, albeit by top-six opposition.

United lost 1-0 at Manchester City before letting a lead slip at home to Liverpool and following that up with defeat at Brighton.

That has led to the team coming in for some criticism, but Howe has blanked out the noise as he bids to put things right on Tyneside against Brentford on Saturday.

鈥淚鈥檓 immune to it, so I鈥檓 not hearing it," said Howe of the critics. 鈥淚鈥檓 only feeling my emotions to be honest 鈥� and my emotions are such that when we don鈥檛 win, I鈥檓 not great to be around. That is my drive.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 need anyone else to tell me anything, really, about the team. My drive is so high. My standards are so high that I expect to win every game and I want to win every game. If we don鈥檛, I鈥檓 disappointed in myself, so I don鈥檛 need anyone else to tell me anything.鈥�

One of the biggest issues mentioned is the use of funds in the summer transfer window.

Newcastle spent handsomely in pre-season, adding four recruits 鈥� Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall. Only one of that quartet has started any of the opening four matches.

Howe said: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e looking to recruit the best players in the sense of who is available, the funds you have, and what positions are the priority. That is made in conjunction with a lot of people; it鈥檚 not just a snap decision. I鈥檓 pleased with the window, the squad is a lot stronger, and hopefully we鈥檒l see that throughout the season.鈥�

Meanwhile, Newcastle have confirmed that the club鈥檚 leading goalscorer from the past three Premier League campaigns, Callum Wilson, has penned a contract extension at St. James鈥� Park.

The Magpies鈥� frontman, who has been away on England duty this week, has signed a one-year extension to his current deal, which was due to come to an end in June 2024.

Wilson has scored 40 goals in 79 league games for Newcastle, and is closing in on becoming the club鈥檚 second most prolific Premier League striker, behind Alan Shearer.

At present Wilson, who netted 18 goals last season as the Magpies finished fourth, needs just eight more goals to climb to second in the club鈥檚 all-time Premier League goalscoring charts.

On signing on the dotted line, Wilson said: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to extend my time here; it鈥檚 a fantastic football club, I鈥檝e been welcomed ever since I came through the door and now the club鈥檚 going in a fantastic direction and on a journey so it鈥檚 nice to commit my future to being a part of that.

鈥淲e've got some great things to look forward to and I think being around here, the city, fan base, is what players dream of so I can鈥檛 wait to be around for the next few years.

鈥淲hen I first joined the club I had ambitions to come back to the Premier League having been relegated with Bournemouth, and over the first few interviews I mentioned Europe and I mentioned getting to 100 Premier League goals.

鈥淭hey were ambitions of mine and they still are. I鈥檓 close to getting into the 鈥�100 Club,鈥� and becoming the second all-time Premier League scorer for Newcastle would be an amazing achievement, having looked up to Shearer for many years.

鈥淭here鈥檚 so many fantastic names that have been before me at Newcastle 鈥� goalscorers who have worn the number nine 鈥� and it would be nice to join them in the record books during my time here.鈥�

Howe, who previously worked with Wilson at Bournemouth, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e very pleased because Callum has been an integral part of our success.

鈥淗e鈥檚 an outstanding person, an outstanding footballer and I鈥檓 delighted he鈥檚 going to be with us for longer.

鈥淗e鈥檚 an incredibly motivated person and I鈥檝e never seen Callum not motivated to score goals. I think that鈥檚 a great thing for a striker.

鈥淗e's always there in training and in games, wanting to score goals, and I鈥檓 sure that will be driving him on to achieve more and more with Newcastle United at a very exciting time for the club.鈥�