Newcastle United

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Bournemouth (14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Defender Matt Target played 45 minutes for the under-21s as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury while the rest of the squad is "pretty much as we were".

• New signing from Bournemouth Lloyd Kelly is "pushing for a start" against his former side: "Lloyd is in good condition. He has made a really positive impact with the group. I have been really impressed by his performances, especially when he came on in a difficult situation for us. He would say he is ready."

• Howe on the club he managed for 11 years over two spells: "We had two really tough games against them last season. They are an athletic side who will hurt you on transitions if you are not on it. We are not fooled by how difficult this game will be. We need to be better on the road then we were last season."

• He said he was "surprised" by stories linking Kieran Trippier with a move away: "He continues to be really valued by all of us. He's just trained as normal and he's been very good. I'm not really sure where this has come from."

• Howe confirmed Jamaal Lascelles has been promoted to club captain, while Bruno Guimaraes has been named team captain with Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn making up the the leadership group.

• On the opening win over Southampton: "We defended our goal really well - [it was] a great return to the style of how to defend. It is about doing that consistently - that was only one game, but I was very pleased. It was an important game for us. It sets the marker."

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

With the contracts of 13 senior Newcastle United players set to expire at the end of the season, we asked you which players should take priority for new deals.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Emil Krafth are the only three I would offer new contracts to. They will all be good squad members for another couple of seasons. The remainder aren't of the quality we need to progress, sadly.

Nat: Trippier's leadership is invaluable. Competing for playing time with Tino will only help Tino develop and there's so much he does for the team off the pitch. Give him another contract. He won't start every game (and shouldn't) but he still has a part to play. Take him into the coaching set-up when he hangs up his boots too.

Jona: Giving Anthony Gordon a new, improved contract should be our number-one priority. He is such a talent, with a great attitude to be an elite player. We need him to be the cornerstone of our front three for the next decade.

Alex: None of the players on that list are of the calibre to take the team to the next level.

Jon: This has been caused by our ineptitude in the selling market. Players like Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis will never play for the club again and will now certainly leave for free. This is a shame considering the PSR situation and every little helps. I still believe Lewis shows some promise and we certainly should have cashed in on him when we could.

Larry: We need to keep Nick Pope. Ryan Fraser can leave.

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards says Eddie Howe "has been working really hard" to try to persuade Kieran Trippier to stay at Newcastle this season, so a move away might not definitely happen.

"His house has been up for sale for a few weeks and that is usually a tell-tale sign that someone is expecting to leave," said Edwards on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They signed Tino Livramento last summer for succession planning - but Trippier still wants to be playing every week.

"I don't think it's a certain that he will leave because Eddie Howe has been working really hard to try to change his mind and stick around. He values his leadership qualities. It is also not a certain that Livramento will be first-choice right-back. Trippier could still play plenty of games.

"Newcastle are keen to keep hold of him but you also have have to look at it from a business perspective. He’s 33 years old and he's one of the top earners at the football club on more than £120,000 a week. If you're no longer going to be one of the key men and there's a market for him and he wants to leave, then they’ve got to consider doing a deal.

"Everton, Atalanta and Galatasaray are all interested. There's a lot of interest in him and it will be one that runs to the end of the window, but I don't think it is a certain that he will leave."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Everton, AC Milan, Bayern Munich and a number of clubs in Turkey are interested in signing Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier. (Talksport, external)

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

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Newcastle United may be considering alternatives, potentially as a negotiating tactic, but their interest in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi remains.

The Magpies have had four bids for the 24-year-old England international - the most recent rising to £65m - turned down.

Guehi, who has two years left on his contract at Selhurst Park, is ready to move this summer if the option becomes available.

But Palace are reluctant to lose both centre-backs after agreeing a fee with Fulham to sell Joachim Andersen for about £30m.

The south London club's chairman Steve Parish told BBC Sport last week: "I can’t imagine a situation where we would lose both of our centre-halves."

But an increased fifth offer could be enough to finally convince Parish as he would be walking away from the best possible fee he could get for Guehi, given his contract situation.

Image source, Getty Images

In the latest 'have your say' on this page, one Newcastle fan mentioned that no-one is talking about the amount of player contracts due to expire at the end of the season.

Some 13 senior players have deals ending in June 2025.

Other key players, including Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope, have deals expiring in less than two years, so there is a lot to be thinking about at St James' Park.

So, Newcastle supporter, we want to hear from you again. Which player contracts should be the priority for the club? And are there any who do not deserve a new deal?

Let us know here, external

We asked you which thing at Newcastle United hasn't been spoken about enough this week.

Here are some of your comments:

Theo: They have 13 players in the final year of their contract, plus another seven players with two years left. Surely we can't allow ourselves to lose this amount with PSR regulations? Surely it's worth accepting lower fees and having at least some value on the books?

Andrew: Nobody seems to be talking about why we haven't sent anyone out on loan this season despite employing Shola Ameobi as a loan manager. Teams like Chelsea and Manchester City add significant value to their academy players because they loan them out, giving them a shop window and inflating future fees. We're missing a trick here.

Richard: No-one is talking about... how good Jacob Murphy is! There's a lot of chatter about the need to recruit a new right winger, but this does a disservice to Murphy. His stats from last season show a very productive player, equal to other supposed superiors. Also, a player's worth is not measured by the 90-odd minutes. Attitude and commitment are valuable 24/7.

Jack: The club not maximising sponsorship opportunities is the biggest issue. No stadium sponsor, no training ground sponsor etc. There are big revenue streams which could make a big difference so it's a shame these aren't being utilised. The slow pace of progress behind the scenes impacts the pace of progress we can make on the pitch and with signings.

Sam: No-one is talking about the increasing costs for fans, despite the fact the club is yet to enjoy any real success. Cheapest adult ticket to watch us play Southampton was £47. Replica kits start at £80. The club charged £25 to stream some friendlies online, then the tech didn't even work. Fans being exploited but accepting it because it's not Mike Ashley.

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Radio Newcastle reporter

When Newcastle were reduced to 10 men against Southampton because of Fabian Schar's sending off, manager Eddie Howe's response was to introduce Emil Krafth from the bench.

Winger Jacob Murphy was the unfortunate one - taken off in the 30th minute as the ever-dependable Krafth slotted in at centre-back alongside Dan Burn to help Newcastle record a priceless opening-weekend victory.

In his post-match interview with BBC Radio Newcastle, Howe described Krafth's performance as "fantastic".

He may not be a guaranteed starter when everyone is fit - and Newcastle are actively pursuing other right-sided defenders - but Saturday was further evidence Krafth never lets them down.

He returned to full fitness last season after more than a year out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and only Lewis Hall played more minutes for the Magpies in pre-season than the 30-year-old Sweden international.

"Krafu", as the club's social media accounts labelled him, was not necessarily a fan-favourite in his first couple of years after arriving on Tyneside in 2019, but is yet another player that has improved under Howe and his staff.

He was signed as a full-back but is often used as a centre-back, starting three of the final four games of last season in that position, as well as impressing there against Southampton. That versatility underlines his value to the squad.

Unless there is some quick transfer activity before the weekend, I would expect him to start at Bournemouth and continue in the centre of defence next to Burn. But, it is possible there could be changes at full-back with both Kieran Trippier and Lloyd Kelly pushing for a place in the team.

Listen to full commentary on every Newcastle United game, and have your say on the Magpies on Total Sport North East every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Newcastle.

And subscribe to the Total Sport Newcastle United Podcast on BBC Sounds

There is always so much noise at the start of the season and 2024-25 has been no different.

But when it comes to Newcastle, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has never beaten his former club Bournemouth in the Premier League in four attempts (drawn three, lost one).

The Cherries are one of three sides that Howe has faced but never beaten, along with Luton Town (drawn one, lost one) and Manchester City (drawn one, lost 15).

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

A 10-man Newcastle United managed to beat Southampton on Saturday thanks largely to our Brazilian midfield contingent and most notably the goalscorer Joelinton.

If there is a greater redemption arc in recent Newcastle player's history then I would like to hear it. Joelinton was bought as a striker for £40m, a deal most people seem to consider suspect at best.

He was then played as a number nine despite having no end product and rapidly dwindling confidence - before being repositioned and re-energised by a new manager to become an integral part of our side.

Joelinton's immense physicality was perfect for this fixture. Southampton came and did what I think most people expected them to do. They had the lion's share of possession and clattered into us at every opportunity. (Fabian Schar was frustrated into receiving a red card, but I'm not talking about that, I am not ready yet...)

The size and athleticism of Joelinton prevented Southampton from doing any real damage to the scoreline. His ability to spread right across the pitch to receive whatever Nick Pope delivered was also a massive part of our win.

It is so exciting to have him back and to see what impact he can have this season without the crunch of additional European games.

Joelinton was, like most of our players, injured last season, with thigh surgery in January ruling him out for the bulk of the second half of the campaign.

What Saturday showed me, and no doubt countless others, was that if he had stayed fit we would have had a much more comfortable end to 2023-24 and would most likely not had the pain of missing out on Europe.

That our previous sporting director was allegedly concerned about giving him a new contract - though apparently PSR concerns factored into that - now seems beyond absurd.

Give him everything he wants. Give him the keys to the city.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes says it was "unbelievable" to wear the captain's armband and lead the Magpies out in their first Premier League game of 2024-25.

"It was unbelievable - another dream come true to be captain of Newcastle United," the Brazil international told BBC Radio Newcastle after the 1-0 win over Southampton.

"But I don't feel the captain. We have Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson.

"So it was good to wear the armband, but for me that is not the difference. There are many ways to be a leader. I just want to be a leader and help the guys out."

On his team-mate Joelinton scoring the winning goal after a long spell out injured last season, he added: "He is a massive player for us. I cannot say how much I was missing him last season.

"He is exactly what we saw against Southampton. He is unbelievable. He is everywhere. He works hard with the ball and without the ball.

"So I'm very happy for him to score the goal. I know how bad it was for him last season when he couldn't play to help us. It was a big game for him. I'm happy for him - we hope he keeps it up."

Listen to the full post-match interview here

Newcastle United still believe they can sign 24-year-old defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, but they are also considering 27-year-old Liverpool defender Joe Gomez and 25-year-old Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah. (i Sport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Davey: A very good, battling performance after a blatant piece of cheating from Brereton Diaz. Schar shouldn't have got involved, but the ref was poor all game. We will play a lot better and need a couple of additions just to boost the crowd and freshen the squad. Great to have Big Jo back.

Gordon: The very epitome of an 'ugly' win. The red card was harsh and spoiled the match as a spectacle, but at least Newcastle defended well and clung on to the points. Luckily Southampton weren't good enough to capitalise on the advantage their play-acting gave them.

Alex: Hate to say it but before the sending off, and after it in the first half, I thought Southampton were the better team. They were superior technically and impressed me a lot with their skill at playing out from the back and mixing it with long balls to beat the Newcastle press. I will happily take the three points, though!

Southampton fans

Cliff: More of the same unfortunately. Lots of possession and shots but, once again, we were unable to take our chances. It's been like this for a long time now - under various managers. If we can't find a top-quality finisher, I'm afraid it's going to be a very long, hard season.

Joe: We lost because we have a manager who insists on playing out from the back but have a goalkeeper who is incapable of doing that. The manager is too proud to change his system. It is a no-win situation.

Oliver: I’ve come across many 1-0 losses as a Southampton fan, but this one was spirited and courageous. Gone are the days of back passes late on. Unfortunately, our two fatal flaws - a toothless attack and a careless goalkeeper - were our downfall. We defied the odds to put ourselves in contention, and Ben's provocation worked a charm! Worth the drive!

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali will be available to play against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup second round.

The match at the City Ground takes place on 28 August which is the same day that his 10-month ban for breaching betting rules ends.

Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July 2023 for £55m and his ban came after he had played 12 games for the Magpies.

Kick-off is at 20:00 BST.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Manchester United and Fulham.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 Wolves

• West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa

Charlotte Coates
BBC Sport journalist

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Newcastle will feel aggrieved at Craig Pawson's decision to send off defender Fabian Schar in the first half after coming head-to-head with Southampton striker Ben Brereton Diaz.

The Chile international gave Schar a push in the back and Schar reacted by lightly pushing his forehead into Brereton Diaz's, resulting in the striker dropping to the ground.

Pushing and shoving then followed from both sets of players as Southampton wanted Schar to be shown red while the Magpies thought it only warranted a booking.

Pawson's decision to brandish a red was not reversed by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and St James' Park erupted into boos every time Brereton Diaz touched the ball.

Looking at a replay, the home crowd may have a right to feel like the decision went against them as opinions were split on whether Schar deserved to be sent for an early shower.

What can be agreed on, however, is that the Newcastle defender should not have put himself in the position to be shown a red card.

Schar was frustrated at being pushed in the back by Brereton Diaz but his actions could have resulted in Newcastle losing their season opener due to being a player down for the majority of the match.

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Newcastle's victory against Southampton: “It wasn’t an enjoyable game to experience. The result is unbelievable for us, but how we got there was very, very difficult. The sending off changed the game completely.

“We knew what type of game it would be. Before the sending off we had our moments, but we weren’t in control of the game. I don’t know if a sending off ever truly helps you, but it gets the crowd to inspire you – and that made a difference.

“Last season we scored a huge amount of goals but conceded too many. The guys with ten men produced a really good defensive performance. To a man we were blocking shots, we were covering space very well. On another day we could have played better with the ball.”

On Fabian Schar’s red card: “The big question is do you want a red card for that. Does Fabi’s action alone warrant a red card? I’m not sure.”

On Bruno Guimaraes’ display: “Defensively he covered every blade of grass. He was immense today.”