These are the key clues Matthias Jaissle gave away at Newcastle unveiling – from the signings he wants to how he will turn this club around, writes CRAIG HOPE

There was no mass of fans on the St James’ Park steps and very little fanfare inside Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle United unveiling.

For a club who want to be among the world’s best by 2030, this was an understated arrival for a head coach whose contract takes us through to that date. He is, by that logic, the man the Newcastle hierarchy believe can lead them to the top.

Not that there was any talk of Champions League and Premier League titles here, or questions about signing Kylian Mbappe, as there was at the outset of the Saudi project nearly five years ago. Veteran midfielder Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg, 31, has been the No1 target in recent days.

Rather, this was something of a reality check, and that is no reflection on Jaissle. The German spoke with enthusiasm and intelligence, and he did so alone. There was no sign of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan or hierarchy on stage with the 38-year-old. No global media, either. This is where Newcastle are at right now, and Jaissle appears smart enough to know what he is walking into – a club where the best players and manager have not long walked out.

His demeanour was one of excitement, composure and, a word he sought to stress more than once, optimism. There is a believable authority about him. But beneath the positivity was a more subtle message. He needs new players. And he needs time. 

Sources have suggested Jaissle is already well aware of what the squad he has inherited lacks – leadership and depth of quality in key areas. You took note when he was asked about the departures of senior players and responded by referencing a leadership ‘vacuum’. He is right, too.

Sources have suggested Jaissle is already well aware of what the squad he has inherited lacks – leadership and depth of quality in key areas

So, with Bruno Guimaraes now in north London, does he have a new captain yet? ‘No,’ came the reply. And that was that.

His answer when asked what remit the board had given him for this season was equally revealing, given Eddie Howe and the club made no secret of their expectation of European qualification last term, which ended in 12th place in the Premier League.

‘(The remit) is that we are ambitious, but this will not happen overnight, especially when you have such a big transition phase now,’ he said. ‘It makes no sense to promise you anything, because I don’t know how things look in half a year or one year. What we can control, we will control. Cutting the tasks down on a daily basis, doing the best job, and then we go in the right direction – and that is going to be successful.’

Transition was another word he used repeatedly. In fact, the Newcastle 2.0 that chief executive David Hopkinson has spoken about post-Howe feels, at this moment, more like Newcastle 1.5. Less than two weeks out from the visit of Liverpool in the Premier League opener, Jaissle has no fit full backs, while the experienced midfielder he craves appears no closer to arriving.

‘We are aware of what we need and the squad that we want,’ he said. ‘Internally, everyone is aware of that, and we are working on the solutions.’

There are talks over a deal for Benfica right back Amar Dedic, but he is another who has never played in England. It is not hard to understand why 97-cap Denmark midfielder Hojbjerg, with more than 250 Premier League appearances at Southampton and Tottenham, was seen by Jaissle as the kind of foundation around which a younger team could be rebuilt. The Marseille midfielder, however, has opted against the move. The optics of Newcastle 1.5 are not the easiest sell.

Because when the target of ‘consolidation’ was put to the manager of this Saudi-owned club at his first press conference – and it did not sound ridiculous or provoke a challenge – it told you plenty about the task in front of him. For that, he deserves patience.

‘It’s a big challenge,’ he said. ‘It always is when there’s a transition period, but it’s not the time to complain. It doesn’t make sense to see the negative. We want to see the chance in the situation.’

There are talks over a deal for Benfica right back Amar Dedic (left), but he is another who has never played in England

It is not hard to understand why Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (right) was seen by Jaissle as the kind of foundation around which a younger team could be rebuilt

You suspect Jaissle’s demonstrative touchline presence will endear him to Newcastle supporters, if not those of the opposition

There is another challenge for Jaissle – keeping himself out of the stands. Although you suspect a demonstrative touchline presence will endear him to Newcastle supporters, if not those of the opposition.

At times in Valencia during his first game on Saturday night, it looked like he was making overlapping runs beyond right winger Anthony Elanga. Indeed, he has already asked club staff how many bookings a manager is allowed before they serve a touchline ban, and he returned a hesitant laugh when informed it was just three.

‘I will not change my style because that’s my personality,’ said the former Al Hilal boss. ‘On the touchline, I am emotional. But I need to respect the technical box a bit more. I had a long line in Saudi Arabia, so I think my GPS would be quite high! I’m a bit scared. I hope in the beginning the referees can maybe close their eyes here and there a little!’

There were other flashes of levity, too, including mention of the song which the Toon Army bestowed on him in Spain – ‘Jaissle, I can boogie’ to the tune of Baccara’s Yes Sir, I Can Boogie. ‘I heard it once and I was smiling,’ he said. ‘The guys around me, all the staff members, said they’re really looking forward to sitting after a match in the bar and listening to the song. So let’s see about that.’

To sit in the bar and be serenaded will need wins. To get those wins, at least on a consistent enough basis to make a success of his debut season, will need more players of greater experience and quality. He knows that. Maybe it is, then, that a low-key introduction was what was necessary. There is no need for Jaissle to boogie just yet. First, he needs a team to dance with.