RAFAEL BENITEZ has finally landed a new striker and aims to follow that up by boosting Newcastle United’s midfield ranks within the next week.

Spanish striker Joselu completed his medical yesterday to finalise his £5m move from Stoke City after months of searching for attacking reinforcements at St James’ Park.

The 27-year-old doesn’t represent much of a gamble at the price they have agreed to pay, despite an unsuccessful time at Stoke since his £5.75m move from Hannover two years ago.

Joselu scored five goals in 20 appearances for Deportivo la Coruna last season, when he was sent out on loan following his frustrating spell at the Bet365 Stadium.

He will now train with the Newcastle squad this week in the hope of proving he is capable of competing with Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic for a starting berth straightaway with a trip to Huddersfield pencilled in for Sunday.

Mitrovic was an unused substitute during the opening weekend defeat to Tottenham, with Benitez even preferring to push Ayoze Perez further forward rather than call on the Serbian when Gayle was replaced in the second half.

Joselu provides the extra option Benitez has wanted after allowing Daryl Murphy to join Nottingham Forest. The Newcastle boss could also look for another front-man, particularly if Mitrovic is sold before the end of the month, and Arsenal’s Lucas Perez is still on the radar.

Chelsea’s Brazilian winger Kenedy is also due to arrive on a season-long loan but Benitez is pushing managing director for further signings, with a new midfielder and full-back high in his thinking.

The need for cover in the defensive areas on the flank has been highlighted further by injuries to Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune. Both players suffered respective hamstring and ankle injuries against Tottenham and are facing weeks rather than months out.

Dummett’s problem saw Ciaran Clark switch to left-back on Sunday but ideally there would be a recognised left-back available to slot in, with Benitez keen to offload the likes of Massadio Haidara and Achraf Lazaar.

The Newcastle boss is well aware of the importance of reducing the size of his squad, having heard the club’s owner Mike Ashley suggest the money needs to be generated from within because he will not keep putting his own money in.

Adding the new centre-midfielder is a big priority and Everton’s James McCarthy is the man he would really like if a deal can be struck with the Toffees.

Newcastle’s interest in McCarthy dates back to last season but they are unwilling to pay the £25m-asking price this summer; they are even unlikely to do so if they can sell players.

It is hoped on Tyneside that Everton will be more willing to agree to an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent switch, and the chances of that happening could improve if they beat Leicester to the signing of £45m-rated Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Benitez does know he will be without both defenders Lejeune and Dummett until September at the earliest – even if fears of an even greater time on the sidelines have been eradicated.

Dummett limped off with a hamstring injury after just seven minutes against Tottenham before Lejeune – on his competitive debut - sustained ankle ligament damage from a tackle by Harry Kane.

Benitez even suggested the challenge was more of a red card than Jonjo Shelvey’s stupidity early in the second half when he stamped on Dele Alli.