EDDIE Howe admits he feared missing out on Malick Thiaw in the summer transfer window, with Newcastle's head coach revealing the German was top of a very short list of defensive targets.

The Magpies had long courted Thiaw and the 24-year-old was the centre-half Howe really wanted as United set about strengthening their backline in the summer.

But initially Howe wasn't sure whether Thiaw would be available to leave AC Milan and, if he was, expected fierce transfer competition, so admits to having his concerns as to whether Newcastle could win the battle for his signature.

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Had Newcastle not been able to sign Thiaw, there weren't many other options Howe was willing to turn to.

"To a degree I was sort of fearful through the summer because there wasn't a long, long list of players that we felt were good enough to come in and have the impact that Malick has," admits Howe.

"And of course he was playing at a top club. Whether he was ever going to be available was unclear, then if he was available, was...