Newcastle United’s astonishing rise under the wing of Eddie Howe reached its apotheosis (for now) when Liverpool were well beaten in the Carabao Cup final last week, ending a 70-year trophy drought on Tyneside.
After losing on the same stage at Wembley two years ago, after the frustrations of last season and last summer’s transfer window, Newcastle’s first team have showcased a remarkable knack for weathering adversity to immortalise themselves.
Lewis Hall and Sven Botman were absent through injury, while Anthony Gordon was suspended for the clash with the Merseysiders. The Magpies still prevailed.
However, the storms haven’t cleared yet on Tyneside, with Gordon perhaps facing a longer spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury during England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania.
Anthony Gordon's injury blow
Fans will take solace in Newcastle’s triumph in the final despite Gordon’s seat on the sidelines, but he’s a dynamic forward whose presence would be sorely missed over the business weeks of the season.
Tuchel’s words will have done little to mollify the anxieties of Newcastle’s supporters, but Gordon was pictured walking post-match, wearing a slight limp.
For now, we wait, but if the Three Lions star is to be sidelined for a large chunk of the season’s remainder, it could be a detrimental blow for Howe’s side.
He’s not quite been as destructive as last year, but Gordon, 24, would be a big miss if indeed ruled out for a prolonged stretch.
Harvey Barnes would be the obvious choice to replace his countryman on the left flank, but there’s someone else for Howe to consider (again).
Who should replace Gordon at Newcastle
Barnes is a sharpshooter, scorer of five Premier League goals this season despite only starting seven games. However, Howe clearly doesn’t like him playing from the outset all the time, and there’s another man who could slot into a Gordon-shaped hole over the coming weeks.
He’s principally a midfielder these days, but Joelinton could be the man for the job. The Brazilian joined Newcastle in a club-record £40m transfer and plummeted to the wayside as an ineffective striker. Steve Bruce refashioned him, then Howe made his own tweaks to create a fearsome new hybrid.
Julian Nagelsmann, who managed the 28-year-old at Hoffenheim, described his protegee as a “beast who is a nightmare to play against,” and that has certainly been the case over the past several years in England.
As per Sofascore, he’s averaged 5.4 ball recoveries, 5.7 successful duels, 2.1 tackles and 0.5 dribbles per top-flight fixture this year, with his powerhouse style making him a great candidate to shift from the middle and onto the left flank.
Howe has also praised the Brazilian for being “like gold dust,” so flexible and willing to compete across any number of different roles.
Only four of his 32 appearances across all competitions this year have been plied on the wing, but he’s made a positive impression when unleashed in the makeshift role.
Namely, Joelinton thrived at left wing when Newcastle beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 at the City Ground back in November. He scored a fine goal, but it was the underlying data that highlighted his quality.
Finding the back of the net when it mattered, Joelinton still retained his trademark combativeness, winning a whopping ten duels, making three tackles and one interception, as per Sofascore.
02/04/25
Brentford (H)
4-2 loss
07/04/25
Leicester (A)
4-0 win
13/04/25
Man United (H)
2-0 win
16/04/25
Crystal Palace (H)
1-1 draw
19/04/25
Aston Villa (A)
3-0 win
The games are coming thick and fast alright. Someone of worthy physicality will be needed to pass with flying colours, and Joelinton might just be the man for the job, especially with Joe Willock waiting in the wings to slot in the midfield and combine so well with his South American teammate.
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