Newcastle boss Eddie Howe must start £38m hero as crucial stats show where he’s going wrong
Newcastle United have begun their campaign in mixed fashion in the Premier League and it could be time for a change on Tyneside.
Whilst the Magpies have improved in recent weeks, a failure to see games out has punished Eddie Howe, especially at home with last-gasp defeats to title-chasing duo Arsenal and Liverpool.
oppage-time winners for away sides have been a recurring theme at St. James’ Park this season, including Gabriel’s last-minute header for Arsenal against Newcastle recently.
Naturally, their defence takes the flak for conceding, but Newcastle’s failure to create chances and profit before the end of the game has been a problem for Howe.
And one star who could provide that opportunity is Harvey Barnes, who has largely struggled for starts since his move.
Harvey Barnes must give Eddie Howe a Newcastle selection headache amid lack of chances
Barnes joined Newcastle two years ago from Leicester City for £38million, though with Anthony Gordon landing at the club six months prior, the two have been battling it out for minutes.
Gordon burst onto the scene at St. James’ Park in that time, which made Barnes’ life difficult to start with.
To add to his dismay, a foot injury not long after joining Newcastle meant the 27-year-old started just three league games from the opening 30 in the 2023-24 season.
In the long run, that has generally seen him struggle to find his way back into the team.
However, Barnes did feature prominently towards the end of last season, registering four goals and four assists in just six Premier League games.
The left-winger has a clinical edge that Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon don’t, and with the Magpies’ recent struggles, it would be best to go with the Englishman to combat their inability to clinch games.
Although Newcastle spent £55million on Elanga in the summer, it could be time to drop the Swede.