Just two defeats in last 10 games – how Eddie Howe got Newcastle back on track

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Set to play Man Utd 

While the world watches with amazement as Manchester City and Arsenal continue their high-flying tussle for the Premier League title, one club that seems to be benefiting from the spotlight being placed elsewhere are none other than Newcastle. However, when Eddie Howe’s team make the trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday night to face Erik Ten Hag’s embattled Manchester United side, they may draw the attention of the wider footballing public and impress a number of them with an impressive performance. 

Indeed, while no one was seemingly watching, Newcastle have rolled up their sleeves and got to work on finishing this season on a high. Over the course of their last 10 league games, the Magpies have lost just two and drawn a further two. Not only is that the fourth best return in the Premier League over that period of time, but it has also meant that Howe’s side have jumped up from eleventh in the table to where they now sit comfortably in sixth place, fighting off Chelsea for that last remaining Europa League qualification spot. 

Although Newcaslte are technically one of the richest clubs in the world, following the club being bought by the Saudi Arabian royal family in 2020, Howe’s squad size has been limited due to Financial Fair Play rules and have been somewhat overly reliant on star players. And much of the team’s highs and lows over the course of the league campaign can be accurately plotted alongside the absence or return of key players in Howe’s team. Perhaps none more so than star striker Alexander Isak. The Sweden international has been dogged by two separate groin injuries this season, with the first one impacting the player in early November and the second one ruling him out of action for three games in February. However, since recovering from his second injury, Isak has been an ever-present member of Howe’s side and the turnaround in form has been nothing short of remarkable. 

In his last 10 league games for the club, Isak has bagged no less than 10 goals and one assist in a run of games that has seen Newcastle drop just two points. To no great surprise, this now puts Isak on a remarkable return of 20 goals in 28 league games for this season which accounts for no less than 25.3% of all of Newcastle’s goals – only five forwards can lay claim to a larger share of their team’s goal tally for the season than the Swedish talisman. What’s more, Isak’s return has also galvanised the form of other key players. Anthony Gordon, for example, has picked up two goals and no less than five assists in Newcastle’s last 10 league games. Similarly, central midfielder Bruno Guimarães has also picked up three goals and two assists in those 10 games too. Which is the exact same return for the Brazilian midfielder in the 19 games prior to that. 

As such, it’ll likely come as no surprise to Newcastle fans if they were to see their side pick up all three points at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening via a goal from Isak and an assist from Gordon or Guimarães. Howe may not have the deepest squad in the Premier League, but he does have a handful of excellent players. And with each of them now fit and in form, it seems more than likely that the Magpies will finish the league campaign in a very strong position.