Magpies manager Rafa Benitez was probably hoping to add the firepower that Andros Townsend has to offer to his squad, but a day-long rumour suggesting the winger was on his way to Tyneside collapsed when Crystal Palace named him on the bench for their Premier League tie on the evening of deadline day.

I’m sure that dealt a massive blow in the Championship’s side transfer business last month.

Another target, Mo Barrow, ended up signing for Leeds United which means the north-east club can’t seem to persuade such players from putting pen-to-paper on a contract there despite their strong finances and league position.

It has to be said, however, that Newcastle did let a few out-of-favour players depart the club.

Former Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote completed a deal to move to China late on in the transfer window, along with goalkeeper Tim Krul who cut his loan spell at Ajax short and almost instantly joined AZ Alkmaar.

So perhaps in terms of departures Newcastle did fairly well but their incomings are much to be desired for.

In fact no one even signed for the Magpies in January.

Will Benitez be frustrated? Probably, but let’s not forget where they are in the Championship table and the fact that when they are promoted, which is more likely than not, in my opinion, then there is a summer to improve the squad even more.

They may not have got their man, Callum Wilson, but Dwight Gayle is in prolific form and does not look like he’ll have a barren spell any time soon.

So for me it’s not a disaster, just a disappointment but Newcastle United will march to promotion to the Premier League by the end of the season.

What did you make of the January transfer window, Newcastle fans? Is Andros Townsend staying in London a blow? Who else should Rafa Benitez have gone for?