Newcastle United

We asked for your views on which wingers should start for Newcastle against Ipswich on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Murphy is locked down on the right. His partnership with Isak is too important to disrupt, so it's between Gordon and Barnes for the left wing. I think currently Barnes deserves to stay in the starting XI. I'm a huge Gordon fan and it pains me to see him starting on the bench, but given current form, and the fact Gordon is working his way back to full fitness still, Barnes deserves 60 mins minimum. It's only fair, as Barnes has patiently waited and made an impact as a sub, and now he's snapped his chance when Gordon gave it to him with the red card. If Barnes' form drops at all, Gordon will have to be ready like Barnes was! Hopefully, they both encourage and push each other to higher levels.

Andrew: I think we should start with Gordon and Murphy, then bring on Barnes at half time/60 mins. Then, next week start Barnes and Murphy, then bring on Gordon at half time/60 mins. It would be a good way for Howe to practise squad rotation for next season.

David: It's a no-brainer - the starters must be Harvey and Jacob. They have worked very, very hard to get into the first team while Gordon seems to have lost his way.

Richard: It's vital that there's meaningful competition for all the positions on the field in order to compete at an elite level. So the selection dilemma over the wide positions is vital. I'm a fan of Jacob Murphy as he absolutely gets his role, both in and out of possession. Gordon and Barnes are better as inverted wingers and therefore better on the left. Murphy is our best option on the right and the stats prove it.

Andy: Eddie has to play whoever is in form and Barnes has earned his place. Nice to have Gordon on the bench to cover both Barnes and Murphy, though.

Peter: Barnes and Murphy should keep their places. There's no doubting the quality of Gordon, but since coming back on the bench he hasn't actually done anything to justify starting ahead of Murphy or Barnes.

Joe Nelson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, BBC Sport

This season, Eddie Howe has had headaches when it comes to selecting his Newcastle starting XI - a luxury he wasn't afforded last term because of injuries.

Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes have both played every front-three position for the Magpies during the 2024-25 campaign, while Jacob Murphy has effectively nailed down the right-wing spot.

Gordon had been keeping Barnes out of the side until he was sent off in Newcastle's FA Cup loss at home to Brighton, and since the Carabao Cup final victory, where Barnes caused all sorts of problems for Liverpool, he hasn't looked back.

In his past six Premier League starts, the former Leicester City winger has accumulated four goals and four assists.

Gordon has also been recovering from an injury sustained on international duty with England and now finds himself out of the Newcastle starting XI.

Of course, either Gordon or Barnes could play on the right, but in their way is an in-form Murphy.

The right-sided attacker has 11 Premier League assists so far this season - only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (18) and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (12) have more in Europe's top five leagues - and nine goals to his name.

Gordon has six goals and six assists in the league, and it is clear that the 24-year-old's tireless work-rate and scintillating pace are a key asset to Howe's side.

Barnes' superb form has made it unthinkable to drop him too, so the Newcastle boss certainly has a headache - albeit a good one.

What do you think? Which wingers should start for Newcastle against Ipswich on Saturday?

Have your say

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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at home against Ipswich (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe began reflecting on the last two weeks away from management as he recovered from Pneumonia: "I'm OK, I am not 100% in my body, but 100% in my mind. It's been difficult, I try to take a positive from every experience from it but it has been a real challenge. Your health you take for granted, I certainly did. I've been through a range of emotions. I feel like I am on the road to recovery and I'm delighted to be back here."

• He paid tribute to NHS staff: "The care that I received from the NHS was absolutely first class. I can't thank them enough, they were absolutely brilliant. The love that I felt from them and the well wishes I received from everybody I really appreciated and am so thankful."

• While he was away, Howe said he had "zero" involvement with managing the team: "You are either all in or all out, and I didn't feel well enough to focus on the football, so I gave Jason [Tindall] and all the coaches the full responsibility. All the coaches have done a brilliant job. I was able to watch all the games, but I wasn't fully there mentally."

• Asked if his return to St James' Park have an impact, he said: "I don't think it can have that much of an effect. I felt, from watching the two games, that the atmosphere was incredible. I'm just delighted to be back."

• He confirmed Sven Botman has trained well this week with the squad which is "a really big step for him", while Fabian Schar "we hope will be OK" after being withdrawn against Aston Villa.

• On the run-in: "I see it being very tight and possibly going to the end of the season for the top five places. I think we have put ourselves in a very strong position. We go into a five-game league now where we have some tough games, but we'll have to be at our best, starting with Ipswich."

• On opponents Ipswich: "They have dangerous players in their team. They recently went to Bournemouth and won, and we know how hard that game is. They have had a difficult season but their away form has been very strong. They have done better away than they have at home which will be a frustration, but that is a warning sign that this will be a tough game for us."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey says Liam Delap should be on the radar of the Magpies this summer given his relatively low transfer fee.

The Ipswich striker has a reported buy-out clause fee of £30m and has already been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, but Howey believes Newcastle would be a good fit for the 22-year-old.

"He's got potential," said Howey to BBC Radio Newcastle. "He is big, he's strong, he's quick and he's aggressive.

"He is a bit of a throwback centre forward because he's very direct in what he wants to do and he can finish.

"He's a proven goal scorer because he's not been given many chances at Ipswich but he's still scored a fair amount of goals for them in his first season in the Premier League. Yes, he was at Manchester City where he made a few appearances but this was his first consistent season.

"If you look at the market now, I think for £30m it's quite good business and it would be a good club for him to sign for because Newcastle will need options when they are also competing in Europe."

Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds

Newcastle are interested in activating the £30m release clause in the contract of Ipswich and England Under-21 striker Liam Delap, 22, which will become active if the Tractor Boys are relegated from the Premier League. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked you to tell us one thing - good or bad - that is currently going under the radar at Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Nigel: Why have Alexander Isak's goals dried up? Has his head been turned? The irony is that without more goals from him we will not qualify for the Champions League, in which case he will leave.

Julie: Squad depth is always an issue for us at the moment - the Aston Villa game was the third in a week and that was a stretch too far for the same XI with only one quality sub. A game a week now until the end of the season should see us finish strong.

Mark: I really think that not enough credit has been given to the fact Eddie Howe has not bought a first team signing in almost two years now. Lewis Hall's loan was made permanent, but he was already here in 2023. Lloyd Kelly signed on a free and has been and gone, while Will Osula is a young prospect that was never bought to go straight into the team. Considering the cash spent and high player turnover at rivals such as Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Brighton and Nottingham Forest, it's quite incredible.

Andrew: Eddie Howe and Mike Tindall have done a fantastic job since coming into our club, but one thing I'd wish they'd work on more is squad rotation. We have some great players who are sometimes playing more minutes than really necessary when we've got some good prospects like Lewis Miley or Will Osula, or solid squad players like Emil Krafth and Matt Targett to come on. Couldn't we have rotated a bit better to keep our star players more fresh?

Carl: Our defence. It has had a great season but finding the balance between attack and defence is still not there with far too many soft goals conceded. We need more options at centre-back and overall squad depth.

Steve: We need to reinstate Martin Dubravka as number one. He is more reliable than Nick Pope and has better distribution. In the summer, we need to recruit a strong, young keeper like James Trafford.

Barry: The one thing nobody seems to be talking about is that while we'd love to be in Champions League next year, it's still a great achievement to have qualified for the Europa League and the fans will be 100% behind our lads whatever competition we're in. So proud!

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Newcastle United have confirmed that Eddie Howe has returned to work "after a period of recovery".

The club recently revealed the 47-year-old manager had been hospitalised with pneumonia.

"Eddie Howe has returned to his duties at the club's training centre," the club added in a statement, external. "We thank supporters for their warm wishes."

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On Wednesday, our senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel reported Newcastle United are one of four clubs interested in Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen.

The 20-year-old joined the Cherries from Juventus last summer on a six-year deal for an initial £12.8m with possible add-ons.

Now a clutch of Premier League clubs are targeting the youngster - and the Magpies' pursuit has got the seal of approval from former Newcastle United defender John Anderson.

"I thought he was excellent when Bournemouth beat us up here," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport Newcastle United podcast.

"I thought he was cool and calm. He was very good and he is only 20 years of age.

"The trouble is that with so many clubs interested in him, it does become a bidding war then.

"So there are going to be a lot of sides interested, but he is definitely one you would take at Newcastle - that's for sure."

Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts on a potential Newcastle move for defender Dean Huijsen this summer.

Here are some of your comments:

Nigel: A perfect fit for Newcastle. Young, athletic, strong and coachable, with a great attitude and solid character. All attributes Eddie Howe loves to work with. His track record of improving players is good and Huijsen would certainly benefit from a Howe approach.

Nick: No-brainer, but was also a no-brainer last summer when Bournemouth snapped him up for £12m, which is not much more than we paid for William Osula, who has looked raw with potential when he has played, but his chances have been limited. This kid has come in and looked every bit a Premier League-quality centre-back at 18/19 years old, so he will only improve.

William: Perfect signing for us given age, ability and room to grow as a player, and think we would be the perfect club in return if he is looking to move.

Harvery: Good, young centre-half who could develop even further with us - especially with the possibility of Champions League football next season.

Gary: He is better than Marc Guehi - and cheaper and younger. It really comes down to whether or not he wants to be a part of our rising project or not. He is an upgrade on our two central defenders, for sure, and would be a mainstay alongside Sven Botman... providing Botman can stay fit, of course.

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Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen is attracting genuine interest from Newcastle, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea heading into the summer transfer window, according to BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

Initial reports have indicated Huijsen has a £50m release clause - information that has been confirmed by multiple BBC Sport sources.

It is understood that while regular playing time to ensure his continued development will be a key consideration for Huijsen when he comes to settle on his future, the prospect of Champions League participation will also be a factor.

Newcastle will prioritise a new central defender this summer having missed out on number one target Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi last year.

Now, we know we have already asked you for comments earlier on Wednesday - and we'll get to those - but let us know what you think about a potential move for Huijsen first.

Is the 20-year-old an exciting target? How do you feel about the £50m release clause? Would he be the right fit for the Magpies, or should they be looking elsewhere?

Let us know here

Newcastle remain in the mix for Champions League qualification but Saturday's heavy defeat by Aston Villa will need a positive response this weekend against Ipswich.

You know the Magpies best, so give us a peek behind the curtain and tell us the one thing that no-one is talking about at the St James' Park club but really should be.

Let us know here

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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson is unimpressed with the current drive towards match data after reflecting on Newcastle being recorded as having fewer expected goals [xG) than Crystal Palace in their 5-0 win last week.

According to Opta, Newcastle's xG was 1.54 while Palace's was 2.0, despite the scoreline.

Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast exactly what he thought of the statistic.

"I want expected goals hoyed in the river," he said. "We beat Crystal Palace 5-0, we played them off the park and they never really got a kick of the ball.

"They missed the penalty and their expected goals was greater than ours- how that works out I do not know.

"I just couldnt believe it when I saw it. People who didn't see that game will look at that and think they did well.

"If they are saying that penalty was a chance, they clearly didn't see the penalty. The ball did well to even reach the goalkeeper!"

Listen to the full clip here

Newcastle, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest have all registered an interest in Wolves striker Matheus Cunha. (Talksport, external)

The Magpies are also interested in Strasbourg's 22-year-old Dutch forward Emanuel Emegha. (L'Equipe - in French, subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

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Whether a top Premier League club or a supporter of one, even small sustainable actions "can have a lasting impact".

The effects of climate change are being felt in many different ways and football is not immune to these.

Previous research, external has suggested a quarter of professional football pitches will be at risk of flooding by 2050.

While so much of fans' focus is what is happening on the pitch, there is an increasing expectation from supporters that clubs should be doing more to reduce their impact off it.

Earth Day on 22 April provides a chance to reflect on the positive actions that are being taken by clubs to reduce their impact on the environment and help their local communities.

Newcastle United have been increasingly working towards becoming more sustainable, reducing their impact and working more with communities.

Some recent initiatives have included:

• The Magpie Mover scheme provides season ticket holders with unlimited travel on the metro, bus and ferry during home matchdays, at a cost of £25 per season;

• The Newcastle United Academy recently teamed up with Football for Future (FFF) to educate the next generation of footballers about climate change and the importance of sustainability;

• A waste recycling operation at St James' Park for the women's Tyne-Wear derby and the Premier League match against Manchester United, with a team of green ambassadors working around the Gallowgate End to promote recycling and educate fans about positive sustainable actions;

• Newcastle United and the Newcastle United Foundation recently launching a football boot donation drive to support local children while enhancing sustainability practice within the community. The initiative is designed to encourage fans to donate unwanted or pre-loved football boots, which will be rehomed by the Ashington Boot Room to ensure they are given a second life with young aspiring footballers in the North East.

Of the boot donation scheme, Newcastle United sustainability manager Helen Hughes said: "Adopting even the smallest of sustainable actions can have a lasting impact on the community.

"Through the boot drive, we aim to reduce waste by expanding the lifecycle of materials, while also providing local young players with equipment that will support their enjoyment of the game.

"We're pleased to offer this opportunity for the Newcastle United family to support both the environment and the next generation of footballers."

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

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Well then. We certainly have come crashing back down to earth haven't we? Newcastle United played Aston Villa at the weekend and lost. You probably already know that. I had to remind myself, so swiftly did I Men-In-Black that performance from my mind.

You can point to all sorts as the reason for the poor performance at Villa Park. Fatigue, the same starting eleven for the last six games, Aston Villa were better, wanted it more, more organised. All of these things could be true, and all are decidedly not good as we hope to secure a Champions League spot for next season. In fact, all the results we needed didn't come through this weekend.

All is not lost. Nowhere near it. I think Newcastle United seriously miss Eddie Howe, who was hospitalised with pneumonia a little over a week ago. By absolutely no means do I want to rush him back - rest is absolutely key - you could see that we missed him when it came to in-game management and tactical tweaks.

This is not to say his second in command, Jason Tindall (known affectionately as 'Mad Dog' in these parts), is doing a bad job. He is not. One of the strengths of our coaching team is that they're a team, and they know their jobs and what is needed on the pitch. There is a reason, however, that Howe is in the head coach position. He's the man that spent over a year learning how to be better at coaching. He's the man who just won us our first domestic trophy in 70 years.

His health is the priority - but I can't wait for him to return. I know that securing a Champions League spot is what he wants, what we want, and what the players want. I just hope we can do that by the end of the season with him in the dugout again.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Cassie: What a game. Ollie Watkins showed his ability and showed Unai Emery why he must start against Manchester City on Tuesday. It is a game which will determine if we play in the Champions League next season. The manager has a selection issue which is not a bad thing, but in Emery we trust.

Graham: Has Villa's win over PSG given the team even more self-belief that they can beat anyone? Another Emery masterclass in selection and rotation. Is that the best bench in the Premier League?

Ian: Another fantastic performance on the back of a terrific effort against PSG. A great team effort against an in-form and very good Newcastle side. We are playing with such confidence and have no fear. All credit to Emery and his staff and of course the players themselves. We just need to keep this momentum going and for once we will go to Man City believing we can win. We have such a strong squad, top players everywhere and of course a genius manager. Keep the faith!

Scott: The steady planning and background work from the manager and his team is being to flourish. Without the quality of squad that he has built, performances at this time of the season would not be possible. In brief, it is a top-class structure at Villa now with a very good squad.

Newcastle fans

Ozzy: Villa had answers to everything we tried, Emery had obviously seen our recent performances and had prepared Villa really well. Our away form has been very disappointing this season and with two away games left at Brighton and Arsenal, we will have to improve a lot if we want a top five position. Hopefully Eddie will be well enough to come back soon - we desperately need his tactical nous & inspiration over the last 5 games.

Alan: We just didn't turn up. Obviously, a difficult trip away to a side in form and they just overwhelmed us. Normally our midfield is a major strength but Guimaraes and in particular Joelinton were just not on it. It's been a long hard season with a squad which has little depth. I feel for the team. Step back, recuperate this week, and then go again.

Howard: We have played so well since the cup win, but a game like this is a reminder that our ability to rotate is very limited. We need to improve the quality of the squad so we can match the top teams. We need depth and to allow players that have been good for the club in the past to move on. We also need more consistency out of our 'star' players. I still believe we will qualify for Champions League.

Richard: I wish Newcastle would stop using the excuse of being too tired or it being a match too far for us. Villa have been playing Champions League as have other top teams and it doesn't seem to bother them. Having said that, I think we will bounce back and qualify for Champions League. However, Isak needs to pick up his form again.