The Tricky Trees secured European football after finishing seventh last season. But manager Nuno Espirito Santo saw one of his best players nabbed when Elanga moved to the north-east in a £55million deal last week. With a vacancy open on the right wing, bosses at the City Ground have identified Doak as one of the options to fill it.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side returned to action on Saturday but it is off-field events that are dominating thoughts at the City Ground

Anthony Elanga has completed a move from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle for a reported 55 million pounds ($74 million).