​Former Newcastle attacker Mick Quinn has labelled the club's new signing Yoshinori Muto a 'lightweight' and admitted that he has yet to be convinced by the forward. 


Muto, 26, made the move to Tyneside over the summer in a £9.5m move from German outfit Mainz as Magpies boss Rafa Benitez looked to add much needed firepower to his lineup this season.

Crystal Palace v Newcastle United - Premier League

However, the club's most expensive acquisition during the summer window has yet to start a ​Premier League game this season, instead making do with five substitute appearances amounting to a combined 65 minutes on the pitch.


Muto's only start for the ​Magpies came during the 3-1 League Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest last month, but the decision to hold him back from the action is due to his need to ​adapt to the demands and physicality of English football. 


Despite Muto having little time to stake his claim, Quinn has claimed Newcastle are better off utilising Salomon Rondon or Joselu as their leading men this season in his column for the ​Chronicle Live. 

“If Rondon is fit, I’d start him. If he isn’t, I’d go with Joselu. I haven’t seen enough of Yoshinori Muto to make a full judgement on him yet, but he looks a bit lightweight to me and I think he’ll take a little time to adapt to the Premier League.”


The pressure is continuing to mount on Newcastle's forward players after a winless start to the season in all competitions, and Quinn is of the view that positivity around the stands and starting on the front foot will changes the club's fortunes around. 


"It’s about a change of mindset from Newcastle: St James’ Park is their home, and they need to stamp their authority.We need that first win to arrive as soon as possible. Otherwise the negativity grows, and it’s a weight hanging around their neck," he added.

"Rather than playing with the handbrake on, Newcastle need to release it and push down on the accelerator. That’s the only way the goals will start flowing."