Newcastle United

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This was the day when Eddie Howe channelled his inner Mikel Arteta.

"My fire is there," the Newcastle United head coach said as he echoed words from his Arsenal counterpart.

"There's loads of wood stacked up."

Having appeared a little flat at his news conference a week previously – even before a subsequent defeat against Crystal Palace - a defiant Howe came out fighting on Friday.

The head coach certainly has to rouse his side into life before the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday.

There have been some strong words on the training ground this week and Howe is again expected to make changes as he looks to finally defeat his former club in the Premier League for the first time.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes is among those desperate to be involved after recovering from illness and injury.

Understandably so.

Newcastle are languishing in the bottom half of the table and have lost seven of their last ten top-flight fixtures.

Such a run has led to Howe's future coming under increased scrutiny.

"I just want serve the club and do what's right for the football club," he added. "That's always been my aim.

"If that's me leaving to help the club, then of course that's something I'll do, I've got no issue doing that. It's not about me.

"But if I believe I'm the right person to take the club forward, which I do currently right now, then I'll do that and I'll fight to the end. I'll fight harder than I've ever fought before."

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth at St James' Park (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe said positivity is needed with a win: "We need that feeling back, it has been too long. We're desperate to win and play well. Disappointing result against Crystal Palace so things were a bit negative but we are trying to propel ourselves towards a good result."

• The Newcastle boss said on captain Bruno Guimaraes: "There is a chance he could be involved. We have seen him in training. The medical team are cautious because the player wants desperately to play. I've loved that about Bruno, he is desperate to help the team. I will make a decision based on what I see in training today and there is a possibility."

• On Yoane Wissa's struggles: "He has had a very difficult season and the most difficult part was that he got fit again and then we haven't been able to train him in the way that we wanted to." Howe added that "a pre-season would definitely help him" and "the best is yet to come".

• On potentially finishing in a European place: "It's still possible. Strange year in terms of the Premier League table. We need those runs of wins which we haven't done for the first season since I have been here."

• Howe said his fire is "burning very, very strongly" but there is "no guarantee" from his side about what will happen in the future because forces in "football clubs move quickly".

• In relation to Anthony Gordon transfer links, Howe said: "I'm not going to play any player if I don't feel they are 100% committed to the club and their future. That is generally across the board. I always do what I think is best for the team."

• On Bournemouth: "In the league we haven't beaten them [in his time at Newcastle]. They are a very good team, they have been on a good run recently in the Premier League and they have their clear strengths. We know what we need to do to win the game and certain parts of our game are going to have to function very well. Every game in the Premier League is difficult."

• He stressed that "home form has always been the bedrock of our success" and "it is our number one priority". Howe added: "We need to make this a fortress again."

• On what he wants to see from his side: "A team that is prepared to run, attack, playing with a high motivation level, freedom. I want to be entertained watching the team play, I don't want to look at the team and think I don't recognise them and there have been moments this season where I have felt that. I've been disappointed not in terms of the effort but in terms of what we have delivered. A big emphasis on entertainment and attacking. We have lost grip of it slightly and the proof is in terms of what you see."

Hear Howe speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds here or by clicking play above

Listen to live commentary of Newcastle v Bournemouth from 14:55 BST on Saturday on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

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

Got a question about Newcastle? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Newcastle United and England winger Anthony Gordon is open to exploring options this summer amid interest from Bayern Munich. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

But Arsenal hold the edge in the race to snap up Gordon with the 25-year-old preferring a switch to London over any other city. (Sun), external

The Magpies are bracing themselves for a busy summer with seven first-team regulars linked with moves away from St James' Park. (Sun), external

English defender Matt Targett, 30, who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Newcastle, is on the radar of Everton and Leeds. (Teamtalk), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson believes Anthony Gordon is not worth £100m but says "it's about what you can get for him" if the winger does decide he wants to leave the club.

• Read more on Gordon's Bayern links

Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I don't see how Bayern Munich would be able to afford Anthony Gordon. He's worth more than £50-55m that's for sure.

"The one thing you don't want is another Alexander Isak situation where if a player wants to go and it drags on and on, that's not beneficial for anybody because we saw what happened in that window.

"Everything was up in the air then all of a sudden you're chasing around looking for players, everything was last-ditch.

"There has been an awful lot of speculation about Gordon. I don't see him as a £100m player but it's [about] what you can get for him."

Click below to hear the conversation in full or listen on BBC Sounds

Listen to Ando and Matthew Raisbeck debate the career of Jonjo Shelvey after the ex-Magpie announced his retirement

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

William Osula's recall against Crystal Palace was the latest twist in Newcastle's search for a lasting solution up front - seven months after Alexander Isak's painful exit.

The club were going to struggle to find a like-for-like replacement for Isak after he pushed to join Liverpool for a British record £125m.

It was viewed as an "impossible" task internally.

But Howe sought to bring in two strikers to share the load after Callum Wilson also moved on.

There was recognition that Nick Woltemade previously had eyes for Bayern Munich and that Newcastle had targeted other centre-forwards after failing with moves for Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.

Yet it felt like this £69m deal happened for a reason after Woltemade scored five goals in his first six starts for Newcastle.

Woltemade still boasts one of the best shot conversion rates (23%) of those players with at least 30 efforts in the Premier League this season.

However, in the absence of injured captain Bruno Guimaraes, the technical Woltemade has curiously been used more often in the middle of the park of late.

It had been a frustration of the coaching staff that they did not have more time to bring out aspects of Woltemade's game in the final third.

They certainly will in the coming weeks as a relentless schedule eases.

But Howe's creaking system has historically relied on a rapid striker who can get in behind - and also lead the press.

As much as Woltemade has had to adapt to a new style and a more intense, physical league following his move from Stuttgart, Newcastle must play to his strengths too.

• Read more on Newcastle's striker issues

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is a potential contender to become Newcastle boss if they decide to sack Eddie Howe. (Talksport, external)

Meanwhile Chelsea and Newcastle are among the clubs set to battle it out for German defender Karim Coulibaly, 18, after an impressive breakthrough season with Werder Bremen. (Bild - in German, external)

Liverpool are interested in Magpies winger Anthony Gordon. (Teamtalk, external)

Newcastle are prepared to bid again for centre-back Ousmane Diomande in the summer. The Magpies showed interest in the 22-year-old Ivory Coast international in January, but Sporting won't accept a fee less than £40m. (Football Insider, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

It's a big summer for Anthony Gordon. For the time being, the Newcastle attacker's focus will be fixed on trying to help his club out of their meandering form.

But there is also a looming World Cup, in which the winger hopes to play a major part for England.

Meanwhile, Gordon's future is set to be one of the most prevalent narratives of the summer transfer window.

It is understood that Gordon is one of a number players Newcastle will listen to offers for at the end of the season.

As outlined by BBC Sport last week, the club will need to sell at least one of their crown jewels in order to give head coach Eddie Howe funds to strengthen his squad if they miss out on European football.

Gordon is one of five players - along with Tino Livramento, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Lewis Hall - who would probably command the highest transfer fee.

Sensing an opportunity, it is understood Bayern Munich have accelerated their interest in the winger in recent weeks.

Well-placed sources indicate the player is aware that the Bundesliga champions admire his abilities. And as things stand, he is understood to be open to considering a move to Germany.

Bayern are an attractive proposition. They pay well and offer a near-cast iron guarantee of competing for major trophies every season. And they would provide the chance for Gordon to team up at club level with England captain Harry Kane.

But as Luis Diaz appears to have the left-wing role locked in at Bayern, it would be interesting to see how regularly Gordon would play at the Allianz Arena.

And while sources are indicating that a move to Germany has a good chance of happening in the coming months, there are obvious obstacles that need to be cleared – namely the transfer fee.

Newcastle are in a relatively strong position to command a minimum of £70m for Gordon this summer. They signed him from Everton for £45m three years ago, although the following season he was offered to Liverpool by Newcastle.

He still has four years on his contract, so Newcastle have leverage - though finances are tight at St James' Park because of profit and sustainability rules, and Bayern will know that.

All that said, Bayern are unlikely to be the only club at the table for Gordon.

Arsenal have a long-term interest and considered making an offer in the summer of 2024. It is understood the Gunners' interest still stands, and that they are in the market for a left-winger again this summer.

The level of Arsenal's interest in Gordon will depend on the price, with the Premier League leaders set to take a more balanced approach to the summer window while they have other targets too.

Read more from Sami about Gordon's big summer here

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson believes additions to the club's coaching staff, as well as the playing squad, could help the Magpies kick on next season.

Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle: "Players become stale doing the same things week in, week out.

"Sir Alex Ferguson was very set in his ways and old-school, but he knew the game was moving forward, so every couple of years he would bring someone in with fresh ideas to keep players evolving.

"I think he [manager Eddie Howe] needs to bring somebody in with newer ideas and that's nothing against his training regime - just players like something different.

"You look at Eddie Howe's backroom staff and they've all been with him for an awful lot of years. They were all with him at Bournemouth.

"I just think sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes as well. They all see things in a similar fashion. A fresh pair of eyes might see things a little differently.

"Freshening up not just the playing side of it, but the coaching side of it as well, may well help."

Click above to hear the discussion with Anderson and the Guardian's Louise Taylor, or listen on BBC Sounds

Bayern Munich are interested in signing Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon. (Talksport, external)

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

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Image source, Getty Images

Two Premier League heavyweights are set to face each other this weekend at Etihad Stadium, as Manchester City host Arsenal.

Both teams go into the fixture with different targets. For Mikel Arteta's side, it is about extending their lead at the top of the table. For Pep Guardiola's side, it is about closing the gap and keeping themselves in the title race.

It is a fixture being labelled a title decider by some, so we want to know who you want to win this Sunday's match.

Will you be cheering on the Citizens or getting behind the Gunners?

Make your selection

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United have held off "serious competition from leading clubs across Europe" to sign 16-year-old winger Johan Martinez.

The Ecuadorian will officially join the club from Independiente del Valle in the summer of 2027 following his 18th birthday.

Martinez, who is currently preparing to face Argentina in the semi-finals of the South American under-17 championships, will remain in his homeland until then.

The move marks a shift in global strategy for Newcastle as the club's recruitment network continues to widen after the appointment of sporting director Ross Wilson last summer.

"We're delighted to beat off serious competition from leading clubs across Europe to bring Johan to Newcastle United," he said.

"Identifying and recruiting promising young players is a key part of how we build for the future, and our scouting and recruitment teams have worked diligently to secure Johan's signature.

"Independiente del Valle have a strong reputation for developing young players and Johan has undoubtedly benefited from that environment.

"He will continue his progress there while we maintain a close connection with his development, and we look forward to welcoming him to Newcastle next year."

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Full disclosure: below I do not waste words litigating the future of Eddie Howe at Newcastle. Not specifically. Not today.

I want to talk about mentality. The dictionary says mentality refers to a person's or group's particular attitude, mindset, or way of thinking. I've had it rattling around in my head since the weekend and the loss away at Crystal Palace.

I'm a curious person. Some might say deeply nosy, but I'm going with curious. I want to know what's going on in people's heads. I want to know why Anthony Gordon starts runs and then seems to think better of it and slows down. Is it as simple as wanting to be fit for the World Cup?

I want to know why Newcastle United as a group have dropped 25 points from leading positions this season. I want to know why, after three weeks away from the Premier League and a reasonable amount of time on the training ground (albeit not with all players the entire time) we were unable, as fans, to point to anything at Selhurst Park and say: "They've been working on that. That has improved."

I want to know why Joelinton even gets picked if the yellow cards reset after Crystal Palace and Jacob Ramsey is fit. I want to know why substitutions are made after we concede, after the opposition grows into the game, after they make their own changes.

The weekend frustrated me as a Newcastle fan, because I can't work out the motivation behind so many of our issues. I can't work out if the players are playing for themselves, or the team, or the manager. I think that's a problem. I think it's a problem that we gift teams points. I think it's a problem that European football next season seems out of reach.

I don't know what the answers to all our problems are, but we need to find them this summer.

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

Image source, Getty Images

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson believes no other manager could have done a better job than Eddie Howe since he joined the club and "deserves another go" beyond the end of this season, despite the club being 14th in the Premier League with six games to go.

It is unlikely that Newcastle will return to Champions League action next season and qualifying for any European competition will be a challenge.

Anderson, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, said: "There's six games of the season left. We said before the Crystal Palace game that they were a big seven games for the manager. And these are a big six games.

"Nothing will be done between now and the end of the season. They'll sit down, they'll review the whole season, the way things have gone and then make a decision on what they're going to do.

"I've said many a time on here in the four and a bit years that Eddie Howe has been here, I don't care who the manager would have been, all these named managers and great managers, do I think any of them could have come in and done a better job than what Eddie Howe has done in the time he's been here? No, I don't think so.

"But managers are judged on recent results, not on what they've done in the past."

He added: "I've seen a lot of stuff and spoken to people who think Eddie Howe has done as well as he can do and taken us as far as he can go. We've heard it so many times about different managers.

"I think he deserves another go at it, I really do. But that's my opinion and people are entitled to their opinion. But I think this summer is absolutely massive because I think a refresh is needed. I think it has all gone a little bit stale."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds or by clicking the play button below, and find more Newcastle United content on BBC Sounds.

Newcastle's hierarchy are continuing to include boss Eddie Howe in discussions on transfer plans for the summer despite uncertainty over his future at St James' Park for the first time. (The I), external

Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the chase to sign Newcastle's Lewis Hall, 21, but the Magpies will not let the left-back leave easily. (Caught Offside)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier on Monday we asked you whether Newcastle should stick with Eddie Howe next season, amid increased scrutiny surrounding his future following Sunday's defeat at Crystal Palace.

You have come out in support for Howe staying as Magpies boss - but not by a lot.

As of Monday evening, 40% of you said Howe should stay as Newcastle boss, 33% of you said the club needs a fresh outlook and 27% of you went for the middle option of maybe and he should be given a chance to rebuild.

The club's season is in danger of petering out, with Sunday's defeat leaving them 14th in the Premier League and the fading hope of a European push the only thing left to fight for.

The results of our poll are in full below

Yes - he has brought us success already - 40%

Maybe - he should be given the opportunity to rebuild - 27%

No - the club needs a fresh outlook - 33%

You can add your choice here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says Sunday's defeat at Crystal Palace has made things "an awful lot more difficult" for head coach Eddie Howe.

The Magpies conceded twice in the final 10 minutes to fall to 14th in the Premier League, making a late push for Europe seem more unlikely.

"It's not about performances, it's about results and this result is damaging, there's no doubt about it," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle's Total Sport after the match.

"It's definitely not the result or performance Eddie Howe was looking for. It looked like it would finish 1-0 so the late turnaround is hard to take. But that's football. You have to keep working and doing the right things. We didn't do that today, we gave away a silly penalty and defended better at the end.

"These last seven games was a mini-league and it's a bad start. Yet again, we can't keep clean sheets. We were a team who were built on keeping clean sheets and not giving goals away and now we're finding it so hard to keep the opposition out.

"You've got to reset, prepare for Bournemouth next week, and you have to go again.

"This result has made things an awful lot more difficult."

Let us know whether you think Newcastle stick with Howe next season

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Explore more Newcastle content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Crystal Palace fans

Peter: Thought Jean-Philippe Mateta was back to his best, so heartiest congrats to him. Oliver Glasner made the right changes on the hour mark, and it was most definitely a change to get a result after a European game previously. COYP.

Lee: After a great start to the season, I began to wonder how we could stretch those good results out. But like every team in this league, you have your purple patches and your lean spells. It feels a bit like last season again – that belief is back. So I'm just going to celebrate and dance to my Glitch Disco remix!

Rich: Previously been critical of Glasner's substitutions, but against Newcastle he got them spot on. Mateta, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada and Ismaila Sarr gave the side renewed energy and impetus and made it look like Newcastle were the team that had just played on Thursday evening. Fully deserved three points in front of a raucous crowd at the end.

Steve: Credit to Palace for a battling performance. So encouraging to see the team fight back from a losing position. The substitutions made such a big difference, and Mateta was like the Mateta of old. The run-in to the end of the season is looking so much brighter now.

Newcastle fans

Ritchie: Three weeks, no game, no change. The team is not a happy, harmonious team, they're not playing for Howe. Howe out, sorry. The game was insipid, pathetic, boring. We spent too much time passing backwards and sideways with zero intent. Another weekend spoiled. Feel sorry for the fans travelling to watch such dross.

• Would you stick with Howe? Tell us

Chris: Same old, same old this season. Can't blame fixture congestion for this one, and Howe has been given time on the training ground. Palace, on the other hand, played Thursday night. Poor in-game management to blame. With no mid-week fixture to consider, there is no excuse not to make subs early in the second half to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Management appear incapable of making proactive changes. Howe should have been replacing his assistants the past couple of years to keep things fresh, his loyalty will be his downfall. Such a shame if a club legend's time will end this way.

Adie: That game was just a tale of our season. Take the lead, concede and then go on to lose. Rinse and repeat. Big summer coming.

Lee: That game our season in a nutshell - take the lead and then meekly give up. Sad to say but Eddie's time has come - excuse after excuse all season and we're going to do well to end up in the top half, never mind Europe. He'll go down as a legend but his goose is cooked.

Image source, Getty Images

The Telegraph's Luke Edwards believes Newcastle United "will not get a better manager" than Eddie Howe, but admits there have been "so many disappointments" this season after dropping more points against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The Magpies have dropped 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season - five more than any other side. If they had kept hold of those points, they would be second in the table.

"We have reached the point where it's about a pain threshold and a tolerance level," Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily. "If you're a Newcastle supporter, it's about how much more you can take.

"This season is certainly on the brink of a real spectacular implosion after another hugely disappointing result at the weekend.

"It was the same sort of failings in terms of them not being able to hold on to a lead, not seeming to know how to play with a lead, and then buckling under pressure late on.

"This season is almost at the point of being written off for Newcastle. It's got to a point where either you believe Eddie Howe is the right man to lead the rebuild or you are calling for him to go.

"You can lay the blame at the manager's door, but he is the most successful manager in the club's history so I would certainly back him. I don't think they will get a better manager.

"He is the most successful manager in the club's modern history. He has outperformed Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan, but I get that doesn't shield a manager forever.

"I'm not a supporter and I'm not paying money to watch this team. It's up to the supporters if they can tolerate this.

"It's a difficult situation because the club have punched above their weight for four years to get into the Champions League twice and win a domestic trophy. They have been the Premier League disruptors, alongside Aston Villa, but it's so hard to do that consistently."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It does not look like it is about to get any easier for Newcastle.

Eddie Howe has fond memories from his time at Bournemouth, but his former club will sense a huge opportunity to extend their unbeaten run when they visit St James' Park next week.

Then Newcastle go to league leaders Arsenal before potentially sticky games against Brighton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Fulham.

It feels like the club are rapidly approaching a crossroads and Howe recognised, himself, this week that it was "very difficult" to look beyond the run-in.

It sounds like he is about to double down.

"A couple of games ago we beat Chelsea away and beat Manchester United and you sit here off the back of a disappointing run and the outside noise is to change everything," he added.

"Sometimes you have got to believe in what you do but, of course, we have to execute it better."

Although a number of Howe's players were away on international duty for most of the gap between games, these past few days still felt like the ideal period for the squad to regroup.

Not least when they were facing a Crystal Palace side who had only played in Europe on Thursday and benched key players such as Adam Wharton, Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who ended up turning the game on its head during a match-winning cameo.

However, on this evidence, there is little to suggest Newcastle are about to finally go on a run and qualify for Europe.

"I always have to look at myself first," Howe said. "I always say that. I'm number one accountable."

• Read Ciaran's full piece