Newcastle United

Matty Renton
Fan writer

It has not been the season most Newcastle United fans had hoped for, but with 10 games to go, Eddie Howe's side can still push for European qualification.

This campaign has felt like a curse, one in which many things have not gone right all season.

Here are three things that need to happen between now and the end of 2023-24:

No more injuries (please)

This is off the back of key central defender Sven Botman being ruled out for up to nine months. You could not write it. Just when you thought the unprecedented injury crisis was coming to an end, the Magpies star defender needs surgery on an ACL injury.

Surely that has got to be the last of the long-term injuries this season at the Toon? I am starting to think the training pitches must have been built on ancient burial grounds.

Keep destiny in our hands

Our upcoming fixture against West Ham at home is a massive one. Beat the Hammers and we will narrow that gap from 10th to seventh to one point. It is a pivotal moment in the season to stake our claim in the race for European football.

It will not be the glitz and glamour of Champions League, but it is paramount the club remains in some form of European competition.

Beat the teams around us with favourable, winnable fixtures remaining. Job done.

Sort out the leaky defence

Our fast track to the top four last season was built on the solid defence. This year has been the polar opposite - conceding goals for fun and looking constantly vulnerable.

This problem may have become more difficult with Botman ruled out, although it gives a chance for club captain Jamaal Lascelles to step in.

Hopefully we see the return of Nick Pope as soon as possible too. The England goalkeeper has been a gigantic miss that looks to have had a knock-on effect on the whole backline.

Matty Renton can be found on The Magpie Channel TV, external

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown will be answering your questions, giving his insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former Premier League midfielder?

How does the rest of your season look? Who has been your best player? What does the manager's future hold?

Let us know what you want answered by sending in your questions here

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been taking your questions on the Premier League and those players on international duty.

Tom asked: Why didn't Gareth Southgate call up Tino Livramento? He plays at right-back (and regularly at the moment). Rico Lewis hasn't been playing all that much this season. Again, Southgate is picking players that just don't have the minutes this season, either through injury or just being out of favour at club level.

Phil replied: I really like Livramento and have been very impressed with him this season. I think he would have been a good selection but Southgate has decided to look elsewhere on this occasion.

England have been pretty well blessed at right-back but suddenly there are injuries to Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Tripper and Reece James so yes, I think you make a very good point about a player who has a future as a full England international.

Read more of the Q&A with McNulty

We asked you what the most irritating thing at your club has been this season, whether it be inconsistency, injuries or a player failing to deliver.

Here are some of your replies:

Ryan: Sheer lack of consistency. The injuries have obviously greatly affected us this season but, despite that, we’ve shown we’re capable of some great performances this season. But week to week, you never know which Newcastle United are going to turn up, and it’s ultimately looking like that will cost us.

David: My biggest gripe so far this season is all the moaners and negativity. We massively overachieved last season. Injuries and a squad that isn’t quite at the level we need, coupled with FFP restrictions are biting hard. When you’ve been supporting Newcastle as long as I have stay the course. Consistency around the top six awaits.

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon described his senior England debut against Brazil as "the best day of my life".

The 23-year-old, who was named player of the tournament as England won the Under-21 European Championship last year, is now hoping for another opportunity from manager Gareth Southgate in Tuesday's friendly against Belgium.

"I am quite hard on myself so I wanted to score and win. If I think like that, I can't do myself any harm," said Gordon.

"I know I played well but I hope for more. It was not quite how I envisaged it, but it is still an amazing day for me and I relished every minute of it.

"I have got a taste now so I want more."

"Gareth was really pleased for me. I think he was happy with my performance which is always a good thing."

"It was chaotic when I came off [against Chelsea on 11 March] and I didn't know what was going to happen. Everything was up in the air.

"But I was really fortunate to miss out on any injury and I got to live the best day of my life."

Did you know?

• Gordon became the first player to make his debut for England while playing for Newcastle since Andy Carroll in November 2010.

Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been given a boost in their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with the 26-year-old admitting he has "other goals". (Team Talk), external

Meanwhile, Benfica's Rui Pedro Braz is high on a list of potential successors to take over from Dan Ashworth as Newcastle's sporting director. (Times - subscription required), external

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

BBC Radio Newcastle commentator Matthew Raisbeck gave his thoughts on Sven Botman's costly knee injury on the Total Sport podcast and questioned the decision not to operate when the problem first came to light: "Sven Botman is one of Newcastle's biggest and best players and since coming back from an initial injury, he hasn't looked the same.

"He doesn't move like the Sven Botman of last season was moving and now he's going to be out for between six to nine months which will obviously take him out of the remainder of this season and probably the first half of next season.

"We may not even see him until 2025. It's another ACL injury, that's the anterior cruciate ligament injury in the knee, it's one of the most serious injuries that any footballer or sportsman can get.

"But it's the second time this season that Botman has had an ACL injury. The first one was in September and he played on, he admitted later, for a couple of matches, without realising that he had damaged the ACL.

"Newcastle then looked at their treatment options with Botman and they decided that he would rest, it would be a non-surgical rehabilitation period, I think the club described it as this week when they announced news of the latest injury.

"He came back in December. He played 16 times between December and March but he's sustained damage to the ACL in the FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City. He's going to need surgery and he's going to have that next week.

"Six to nine months is the estimate, that's quite a big window. With it being a second ACL injury, we think it's the same knee, so a question to ask would be why didn't they just operate in the first place because he would be six months into his recovery right now possibly ready to return for the start of next season? It does feel like Newcastle maybe need to address this and they need to explain the process and why they didn't elect for surgery in the first instance."

Listen to the full episode here

Newcastle have been monitoring Feyenoord and Netherlands defender Quilindschy Hartman, 22, as they look to boost their left-back options. (Football Transfers, external)

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

We asked for your thoughts on the injury to Sven Botman after it was confirmed the defender would be sidelined for six to nine months.

Here are some of your responses:

Paul: This is terrible but he's not the only one that has played while not ready, not fully recovered, not fully fit or still suffering from muscle fatigue. These are some of the reasons, I believe, why so many injuries have happened. Stop taking these risks. Physios - don't crumble under pressure from management!

The White Feather: An average, expensive player with a horrendous injury record. Waste of money in my opinion.

David: I agree with John Anderson. Botman was a colossus last season but since December he has not been the player he was. It was obvious he'd returned too early as he'd lost his pace and confidence on the ball. I wish him all the best for the future as he is a quality player.

Alan: There has to be a common reason for so many injuries. Is it the training? Or the type of playing style? The amount of injuries this season have been ridiculous.

Ed: Lack of recruitment resulting in a paper-thin squad. So the continuous raining blows of injury-upon-injury, betting scandal, etc, have crippled our squad. Those who have managed to stay fit must be totally shattered!

Image source, Getty Images

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says the "gamble" of Sven Botman not getting surgery initially after injuring his knee "has backfired" after the Netherlands international was ruled out for six to nine months, external.

Botman first injured his knee in September but the club and player decided to opt for rest rather than surgery that would have ruled him out for a sustained period.

"A huge blow, for the length of time as well," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck.

"They took a gamble that he wouldn't need surgery and you would say that gamble has backfired.

"He hasn't looked right for quite a while, he hasn't looked the same assured player.

"He looks like he's running in quicksand, there's no movement there at all. The way he turned wasn't right.

"It's a gamble that they took hoping that he wouldn't need surgery but it's backfired and bit him on the backside."

Central defender Botman returned to action in December 2023 after two months out after completing a non-surgical rehabilitation plan and Anderson believes looking back this was the wrong decision.

"Hindsight's a wonderful thing in these situations," he added.

"I found it amazing when he came out and made that statement that he's seen different specialists and he was getting different opinions over whether he needed surgery or rest would heal it.

"It looks like the rest hasn't done it because he was out for quite a while."

• How do you feel about Botman's injury? Tell us here

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, former Chelsea manager Graham Potter and Wolves' Gary O'Neil could all be in the running for the England job if Gareth Southgate leaves for Manchester United. (Mirror, external)

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

As we approach the business end, we want to know the most irritating thing at your club this season.

Has it been a player failing to deliver, injury woes, inconsistent form... or something else?

Let us know your biggest gripe here

Pete Davey
Fan writer

Although there were some that were hoping for a miracle, most Newcastle fans won't be surprised at the outcome at the Etihad stadium on Saturday night.

The manner of the exit, without a whimper, is the most disappointing thing for me. Of all the quarter-final ties we were the only side that didn't put up a fight and that stings a little, I cannot lie.

So, is that season over?

In a word, no. The cup competitions are over for another year but our hopes of Europe haven't yet faded. We sit languishing in 10th position, a world away from the elite teams at the top but only four points adrift of West Ham in seventh and with a favourable set of fixtures to end the season. Can we do it? Of course, but we will have to do something we haven't done since November - play well consistently!

We are aware this is a process of rebuilding Newcastle United from the ground up and there will need to be some patience along the way, but not acquiring European football will be disappointing for the club after last years achievements. And, what will come with a failure to reach Europe is interest in our very best players - something no Magpies fan will want to even consider at this stage.

So, we stay positive. Lots to play for and 10 cup finals to achieve it. If anyone can do it, Eddie Howe and this group of players can. HWTL.

Pete Davey can be found at LoadedMag NUFC, external

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak is on Arsenal's shortlist, with the Gunners aiming to bring in a forward during the summer. (Football Insider), external

Former Chelsea recruitment chief Scott McLachlan is a target for Newcastle to replace sporting director Dan Ashworth, who is heading to Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

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

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has been speaking to the Sacked In The Morning Podcast about gambling, the addiction and the bans handed to Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali this season.

"People have no respect for the gambling addiction at all," says Merson.

"I think we've seen that with the bans of Tonali at Newcastle and Ivan Toney. I think to give people 10-month bans for an addiction that is ravaged in football, sponsorships all over the shirts, I think they needed help. I don't think that's help giving them 10 month bans. I think it's a disgrace really. I think if they were on heroin, I think they would have been playing a lot, lot quicker than what they played in 10 months. I really do.

"I think we underestimate this addiction. It kills people. More people commit suicide through gambling than any other addiction in the world. So we need to show it some respect and it's not, 'oh, show a bit of willpower'.

"Because, you know, I would say to these people, we keep on making these rules up and banning people. Next time you get diarrhoea, try and stop that with willpower."

Listen to Sacked In The Morning here

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions on Nottingham Forest's points deduction and the wider debate around that.

Tony asked: Simon - considering how Profit and Sustainability Rules have hamstrung an ambitious club such as Newcastle this season, will it simply ensure that the dominance of the existing big clubs is never challenged?

Simon replied: This is one of the big issues Tony. If we take Newcastle as the example, I am pretty sure Saudi PIF have a decent credit score and could be relied upon to pay their bills, no matter how big they were. But what would happen if Newcastle put a squad together of the best players in the world and Saudi PIF suddenly said "actually, we are not doing this any more, we are stopping funding" - what would happen to Newcastle then?

It is implausible but lower down the food chain, that is what has happened. Think about Derby, Wigan, Bolton. Their owners simply stopped paying the bills. Protecting clubs by making them live within their means – Premier League clubs can still lose £105m over three years so some investment is allowed – and encouraging spending is a tricky balance. I am not entirely sure how a regulator solves it.

Matty Renton
Fan writer

Another year goes by without silverware for the ever loyal Toon Army.

Some 8,000 Geordies travelled to the Etihad on Saturday night, more in hope than expectation, but two deflected goals saw the team crash out of the FA Cup quarter-finals.

A painful reminder was showcased in the build-up to this game of the last time Newcastle United won a domestic trophy. It wasn't just the kits that were black and white back then, it was television as well. An ancient clip of the Magpies lifting the FA Cup way back in 1955 was beemed to the nation on BBC.

A quite startling reminder of just how long it has been since Newcastle last tasted success.

The club have won a trophy since then - the European Fairs Cup in 1969 being the last major honour, not counting the Championship back in 2017, obviously.

It's truly remarkable that it has been so long since a team of this magnitude won something of significance.

Failed FA Cup finals in the 1990s, alongside being runners-up in the Premier League, is still haunting the fans from the 'Entertainers' era. This has now transferred to the current day, after last season's Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester United.

The main joy for me, after the club was taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, was hope - something I never had under the previous regime. The hope that I might just see silverware in my lifetime.

The cup draws this season certainly haven't helped us and the restrictions the club have on spending, because of Financial Fair Play, was always going to make the task even harder.

However, in the first two years of the new ownership, we have reached a cup final already and competed in the Champions League.

So, hope remains. It’s not going to be this year, but could it be next...?

Matty Renton can be found on The Magpie Channel TV, external

In the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given and Leicester City defender Conor Coady discuss the Magpies' "inconsistency" and their defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

"It feels like a handbrake has gone on," said Given.

Watch Monday Night Club on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds