Supporters are growing concerned after recent results

Matthias Jaissle is 'learning on the job' and that's causing Newcastle United supporters to wonder if he's capable of getting the club to where they want to be - European qualification.

That's the view of Sky Sports pundit and co-commentator Alan Smith, who believes the Magpies are in a state of flux and transition this season.

Three defeats in their last four games has increased the scrutiny on Jaissle, particularly given the manner of some of the performances - particularly the 4-1 hammerings against Leeds United and newly-promoted Coventry City.

The German head coach is still adapting to life in the Premier League and trying to instill a new formation and style of play on his squad, many of whom are young and inexperienced themselves at this level.

Smith believes fans are getting concerned, both with the results and the lack of goals, with big money summer signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo yet to get off the mark and Yoane Wissa's form having declined after a bright start to the season.

"There's problems at Newcastle," Smith said. "I’m sure the fans are getting worried. Just one or two groans. A successful season would be to get into Europe. Whether they can do that is another matter. Jaissle’s learning on the job, isn’t he?

"They’ve got Fernandez-Pardo, come for big money. I noticed they played him on the right rather than through the middle the other day. He needs to get acclimatised, and [Will] Osula needs to contribute. So I don’t know.

"I think people up on Tyneside will be wondering where the club’s heading, really, where the team’s heading."

It's not just on Tyneside where Newcastle have some concerns they are looking to address. With Fernandez-Pardo, Wissa and the forward players failing to fire, it has led to renewed talk about Nick Woltemade.

The German was sent on loan to Juventus on deadline day, where he will remain for the season. The big striker didn't fit into Jaissle's intense style of play, and Newcastle are believed to be keen to get Woltemade out the door on a permanent deal once his loan move is completed.

However, the 24-year-old has made a slow start himself to life in Italy. He is playing second fiddle to Randal Kolo Muani, who has started all of Juventus’ Serie A matches, and has notched just twice this season - both in the Europa League, one a penalty.

With the wages and transfer fee that Juventus may have to fork out if they wanted to sign Woltemade on a permanent deal, they are already believed to be looking at other targets, including Monaco's Folarin Balogun.

"You buy these players for a lot of money and you’re paying big wages, and it’s difficult, because if you’re on Premier League wages, it’s quite hard to match them elsewhere these days," added Smith to BestBettingSites.co.uk. "So Woltemade might think, 'well, I’m not going to go here or there if it’s half the money'.

"He’s one on his own in terms of his style, so you’ve almost got to build a team around him. And he did well when he first started for Newcastle, didn’t he? But it might be a bit of a problem for Newcastle to work out what to do with him."