Murphy brace delivers a derby win to Toon Ladies

Newcastle United's new sporting director Ross Wilson has a January transfer window to manoeuvre on the horizon - but he cannot take his eye off one of the biggest appointments the club have had to make since the takeover over four years ago.

- by Joe Buck

The Magpies are no strangers to making big appointments, having seen two CEOs and three sporting directors join the club under new ownership. Wilson, the latest to be handed the sporting director reins following in the footsteps of Dan Ashworth and Paul Mitchell, is set to guide the club through his first transfer window.

A lot can happen between now and January and Wilson, along with Eddie Howe and the recruitment team, will be doing their all to ensure that they can exit the window in a stronger position than they entered it. However, not all of Wilson's focus can be geared towards what business the men's team can do in winter.