Newcastle United

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe was thankful to the Newcastle fans today - for the flags they made in Anthony Gordon’s honour.

When the teams emerged at St James’ Park a huge number 10 shirt was unfurled opposite the players’ tunnel. In the Gallowgate End more tributes for the former Everton man were unveiled.

It was not entirely clear whether they were supposed to go with a contract announcement which, as it turns out, is not quite ready.

However, Howe appreciated the sentiment and said it was important Gordon ‘felt the love’ from Newcastle’s supporters in a way he personally was unable to express.

It hinted that some cajoling has been going on behind the scenes after a disappointing start to the season, for the forward and his club.

Gordon responded with his best performance of the season, propelling Newcastle to their best result.

The key now is to keep it going.

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Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following today's draw: "We are happy, especially after last week. That was a good display, that was us playing our way, brave. It was two teams going right at each other for probably 70 minutes. Last 20 minutes they were stronger than us and we had to defend really well to maintain the point.

"We got into really good crossing areas and I was really pleased with how we were off the ball and how we attacked the game. I can't ask for much more than that, the lads gave everything."

On Anthony Gordon playing up front: "I've said he is capable of doing the role. The highlight for me today was his energy and his running. He led the line really well and really pleased that he got his goal. Well deserved."

On Sandro Tonali: "It's probably our strongest position in terms of choice. Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff we rate really highly. Tonali would be right up there with one of our best performers today. He suffered a bit of cramp today but that is natural with the amount of time out that he has had.

On the improved performance from last week: "It's difficult to define how people react in certain situations. There is always going to be a lift here, especially against the opponent. There's a fear factor, you know you have to perform well or it could be very difficult. The challenge for us is to find that consistency and that's what we are working towards."

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Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon has won seven penalties in the Premier League since the beginning of last season, at least four more than any other player (Raheem Sterling – 3).

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What did you make of City’s display?, external

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

All kick-off times BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries:

• Arsenal v Leicester

• Wolves v Liverpool

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week six, he takes on Maximo Park singer Paul Smith, whose latest album, Stream Of Life, is out on Friday.

Newcastle host Manchester City at 12:30 on Saturday.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Newcastle’s performances have not been there all season but they have been picking up results, most of the time. They could have gone top for a few hours last weekend, had they not lost at Fulham after a disappointing performance.

They have given Manchester City a good game at St James' Park in the past couple of years but, given their current form and the fact they are yet to click, I am not sure this game will be as close.

City are without Rodri but I still think they will win comfortably. Of course they will miss him, but they have players who are capable of stepping in.

Smith's prediction: 1-2

It should be a good game because Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is the kind of manager who will try and have a go at beating them, but City are just a juggernaut and will continue to do what they do, and press and press, until they score.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Newcastle United have announced chief executive Darren Eales will step down from his position, after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer.

The 52-year-old joined Newcastle in August 2022 and he will continue in his role until a successor is appointed.

"Being CEO of Newcastle United is an extraordinary privilege and I am incredibly proud to be part of the club's exciting journey," Eales said.

"However, it has become apparent to me that now is the right time to make this decision, so that I can prioritise my health and my family.

"In the short term, it will be business as usual in terms of running the club's day-to-day operations. I will give my full support to a transitionary period that will enable the board to carefully appoint my successor."

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan thanked Eales for the "significant contribution" he has made during his time at the club, "helping to build a strong foundation for Newcastle United's success".

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Eddie Howe has explained Alexander Isak's injury problem in detail as the Magpies run the risk of being without the striker when they face Manchester City on Saturday [12:30 BST].

Isak, 25, picked up an injury during Newcastle's 2-1 league win at Wolves, where he was replaced at half-time, on 15 September.

Howe said: "He'll be a doubt for tomorrow. He's had scans, he's had lots of tests. The injury has been diagnosed fine, there's no issues there.

"It sounds worse than it is, but he's got a broken toe, but it's one that can be managed and played with providing he can tolerate the pain levels, and that will have no long-term risks.

"He had an injection to numb the toe last week and that was fine until the injection wore off. Let's see how he is today."

The Swedish forward has started all five of Newcastle's league games so far, scoring once.

"He trained last week before the Fulham game on the Friday and he had an injection in his toe to play. He felt fine, but then he started to feel his toe in the last five to 10 minutes of that game," Howe added.

"Then after the game it stiffened up and it wasn't in a great place early in the week, so he hasn't trained yet, so we'll have to make a decision again as to whether he trains today or he misses the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have scored in each of their last 31 Premier League games against Newcastle- the longest scoring streak one team has against another, in Premier League history.

Speaking on Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Newcastle fan Kendal Rowan described the Magpies' current situation as "worrying" due to their "makeshift backline".

Newcastle have conceded 61 shots in five games from inside the penalty area. Rowan agreed that this is a cause for concern for when Eddie Howe's side face Manchester City in the early kick-off on Saturday.

"We haven't played well at all this season, even though we have been getting results," she told 5 Live Breakfast.

Rowan said that this season Newcastle have struggled to start games well - even at their "fortress," St James' Park.

"It's somewhere that we feel confident playing usually- that's not been the case."

You can listen to updates from Newcastle v Manchester City here on Radio 5 Live

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester City (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• In terms of fresh injuries, Howe said that striker Alexander Isak is "still nursing a toe problem" and is a doubt for the game.

• Midfielder Sandro Tonali is "definitely knocking at the door" to start in the Premier League.

• Defender Matt Targett has had a flare up of eczema which he has struggled with for the past few weeks. Howe is hoping to get him back in training on Friday but he will not be involved at the weekend.

• On the Carabao Cup third-round tie against AFC Wimbledon being postponed in midweek because of flooding: "It gave us the opportunity to train, which was probably a good thing for us. [We had] two really good days where we have gone to work with the team and solved some of the issues from the Fulham game, so I look at that as a positive. If we had the game it would have been a positive but we didn't and we always try to have a positive outlook on the situation."

• On Newcastle donating £15,000 to help AFC Wimbledon repair their pitch: "That's where the football community does so well for each other because that support is vital. It looked in a really bad way. We wish them well and we hope their pitch gets back working very soon."

• Howe spoke about the balance he is trying to achieve in midfield: "There is a good harmony between all the players. We understand our roles and the positions we're playing, and we execute that and what that position requires. I've got no issue with the balance in midfield. Whoever plays, we're looking for them to deliver a Newcastle performance."

• On whether they need to deliver a big performance against Manchester City after losing at Fulham: "We always need to deliver. There is always that pressure but yes, I think we have a responsibility to show our true selves - to turn up and give our best. That feeling is always there, from me and everybody. I think the players know - they are very honest with themselves as well. They know that last week wasn't good enough so that internal reflection can be really healthy and sometimes a performance like that can be healthy for the long term if you use it in the right way. That's what we are trying to do."

• Howe spoke about the challenges of facing City: "We've had some really good games against them at home - maybe not away. Reflecting on those games, there were nearly moments for us, especially in the last home game. We felt we did a lot right but didn't get the result and that's probably testament to them and their quality and their attitude, the way that they fought to the end and scored a goal in the dying seconds. It shows that against that type of top quality that Manchester City possess you have to be good for the whole 95 minutes. You can't switch off for a second. Defensively, we are going to have to be very good in this game."

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

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There has been a lot of conversation this week about "dark arts" in football following the draw between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday.

Realistically, everyone who has watched football for longer than one game has seen things they would perceive as "dark arts"; whether it is a player always going down winning free-kicks to take the sting out of the game, kicking the ball into row Z when there was no multi-ball system or time-wasting on goal-kicks.

These are things we see all the time but our perception of it is dependent on the context of a game. You always see some version of it somewhere, and you hope your team would be doing the same thing if in the same situation - because why should you do something that would benefit the opposition you are against?

It is the same as going down a bit more easily to win penalties - some people will say "this guy is a cheat", but then on the other side of their mouth, if it is something that could benefit them, they say "he has tried too hard to stay up, he needed to go down there".

You can have rulings, Ifab can get involved to change this and that, but there will always be a way to push the rules to their limits.

What we saw with Arsenal in that game, where David Raya sat down to get some treatment while the teams gathered, we have seen those moments before. It is not just new to Arsenal - other teams do it.

It is always based on certain moments. You do get more frustrated if it happens against you, but when you need to do it, you encourage people to do it. That is one of the beauties of football - the way you see things is always going to be down to perception, context and just whether you think it is benefiting you or not.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright

Crystal Palace and England defender Marc Guehi, 24, would jump at the chance to sign for Liverpool and not long-term admirers Newcastle United. (Football Insider), external

Newcastle are struggling to progress contract talks with winger Anthony Gordon, who was a target for Liverpool last summer. (Telegraph -subscription required), external

Liverpool would have helped finance the Gordon deal by selling 27-year-old England defender Joe Gomez to Newcastle in a separate £45m transaction. (Mirror), external

Newcastle are keen to tie Gordon to a long-term deal, with Arsenal also keen on the former Everton player. (Sun), external

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

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Football analyst Statman Dave says the performances of Newcastle United have not been as good as their results suggest in the early stages of the Premier League season.

The Magpies lost their unbeaten start to the league campaign following a 3-1 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage last weekend.

"One of the big concerns with Newcastle is the amount of shots they are conceding," Statman Dave told the Planet Premier League podcast.

"Nick Pope is a wonderful goalkeeper and having him back this season has stopped the slide from last season but when you are conceding 61 shots in five games from inside of the penalty area, you've got a bit of a problem.

"I think on top of that, when you look at the Newcastle squad, it is still paper thin. They have a great starting XI but after that?

"We've already seen with the likes of Kieran Trippier not being at the top level in terms of creativity. He's been massively important over the past few seasons in terms of creating chances but nobody has stepped up from a set-piece perspective.

"There are a few issues for Newcastle at the moment and behind the scenes there are obviously question marks as well."

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Recently, we asked you for a topic that nobody is talking about at Newcastle but should be.

A few got in touch to raise concerns about the Magpies' defence so we put that to former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha.

Newcastle's success in previous seasons was pinned on defensive stability, in terms of the faces and the way they played.

As you look through this season, they started off without Kieran Trippier, they started off with Fabian Schar getting sent off against Southampton and missing three games.

The players that are in there are good players, but it is not the same consistent unit.

Against Fulham, they were giving up so many chances and shots from inside the box. At times, they have been too open and I think teams are benefitting from that. Maybe Eddie Howe can find a way to make them a bit more solid and robust.

The result is always the most important thing, but the way you get to it can be something which can either make you feel at ease or a little bit uncomfortable.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Phil Cartwright

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Manchester City have scored in each of their past 31 Premier League games against Newcastle, the longest scoring streak one team has against another in the competition’s history.

Newcastle United have beaten Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund to secure the services of Dinamo Tbilisi's 17-year-old Georgian forward Vakhtang Salia. (HITC), external

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

Image source, Getty Images

The draw has been made for the Carabao Cup fourth round, with 12 Premier League clubs having made it through and Newcastle set to play their postponed tie against Wimbledon on 1 October.

There are four confirmed all-Premier League fixtures, including Tottenham hosting Manchester City and holders Liverpool travelling to Brighton.

Ties are scheduled to take place the week commencing 28 October.

All the fixtures featuring top-flight sides are shown below:

• Brentford v Sheffield Wednesday

• Southampton v Stoke

• Tottenham v Manchester City

• AFC Wimbledon/Newcastle v Chelsea

• Manchester United v Leicester

• Brighton v Liverpool

• Preston North End v Arsenal

• Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

See the full draw

Manchester United are closely monitoring manager Eddie Howe’s situation at Newcastle, with doubts over his long-term future. (Football Insider), external

Newcastle's 32-year-old England striker Callum Wilson is a January target for Brentford and Fulham. (Sun), external

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