BREAKING NEWS:Eddie Howe has confirmed the return of former key player few minutes ago

August 10, 2024 cbsnewz FOOTBALL 0

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“CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH!” It was a taunt even injury-ravaged Newcastle United were subjected to by opposition fans up and down the country during a testing winter last year. Geordies got to turn the tables on Friday night after watching their side put shell-shocked Girona to the sword at St James’ Park

It was just a friendly, of course, but Newcastle’s blistering start and the intensity with which the black-and-whites played in that first half felt like a potential glimpse of what’s to come. Remarkably, with quarter of an hour on the clock, Newcastle were 3-0 up following goals from Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon. By half-time, the Magpies were another goal to the good after Longstaff grabbed his second. It could have been more; Alexander Isak even missed a penalty

The rout felt like a timely reminder of the quality at Eddie Howe’s disposal after Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes were given a night off ahead of the visit of Stade Brestois on Saturday while Sven Botman, Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali (suspension) and Callum Wilson are among those currently sidelined. However, to truly mount a sustained challenge for the top four, this squad will still need quality reinforcements.

Talks remain ongoing with Crystal Palace regarding Marc Guehi after Newcastle had multiple bids turned down for the England international. Although there are less than three weeks to go until the window shuts, the measured Howe did not exactly cut a concerned figure.

“You have to stay calm,” the Newcastle boss told reporters. “I don’t think there’s any use in any other emotion. We will try to make the right decisions given the conditions that we’re working in.

“The window has been slightly slower this year. It does seem to be picking up now. There does seem to be more transfer activity. We’re hopeful to be active and to add at least one player to the group. Let’s wait and see.

“It has to be about quality rather than quantity for us because we have got such a good squad, anyway, that if you’re going to add players to it, they have to push the group to new levels so that’s what we’re looking for, which is very difficult to find. There are not many players that will make us better.”

The reality is that Newcastle could yet line up for the season opener against Southampton with so many of those players who started the campaign a year ago. As strange as it sounds, that will also come as a relief of sorts to Howe.