Here are your top Newcastle United headlines for February 22.
Trippier 'not cheating'
Watching Diego Simeone in full flow is a privilege, but there is only so much you can take from observing a couple of the Atletico Madrid boss' training sessions. What proved more significant during Eddie Howe's well-publicised fact-finding mission in Madrid in 2021 was the time the head coach and assistant Jason Tindall spent with Kieran Trippier, who was playing for the Spanish giants at the time.
Howe and Tindall had a longstanding relationship with Trippier from their spell at Burnley and the pair left the capital knowing that a return to England was something that was on the defender's mind. When Howe and Tindall rocked up at Newcastle United a few weeks later, they quickly sounded out Trippier, who was open to the mid-season move despite the Magpies' dire situation in the relegation zone at the time.
It was rather fitting that Trippier was the first signing of this new era. To say the England international has been a transformative player, on and off the pitch, would be an understatement.
A side that threw away 24 points from winning positions last season - it is worth noting Trippier only played six league games because of injury - have become more streetwise and got under the skin of big-name opponents like Arsenal and Chelsea in recent months. Indeed, it said it all that Newcastle were even booed off after losing against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season.
Those games have proved the basis for Newcastle's unofficial motto - we're not here to be popular, we're here to compete - and Howe has not been shy in crediting the 'know-how' of Trippier for that turnaround. That experience could yet prove vital in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United on Sunday as the black-and-whites bid to end their 54-year wait to win a trophy.
You can read the full story here.
PL FFP boost
Newcastle United are in line for a boost in Premier League television money ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.
The Premier League splits UK broadcasting income into three categories: an equal share where half of the pot is distributed evenly between all 20 clubs; a 25% merit payment based on where a side finishes; and, finally, a 25% facility fee, which is calculated by how often a team are broadcast live in this country.
Newcastle's rise up the table, which has seen the Magpies' games selected more regularly for broadcast, means the club stand to earn substantially more in UK TV money than last season when Howe's side banked more than £18.5m in facility fees and a merit payment of almost £17m for finishing 11th. While those figures were significant, Arsenal were awarded more than £25m in facility fees, after having eight more games televised, and the Gunners also received a merit payment of just over £27m for finishing fifth, which is where Newcastle currently lie in the table.
You can read the full story here.
Diallo interview
Newcastle United were searching for a direct and pacy winger to bolster their academy ranks. Amadou Diallo was waiting for a call from his agent having left West Ham following a decade in the capital.
In the end, it was a deal which was quickly agreed. Diallo arrived for a two-week trial, and an impressive outing in the under-21s draw at Middlesbrough in September was enough to earn the former England youth international a contract at St James' Park the following month.
The announcement of Diallo's arrival outside of the transfer window was a bolt out of the blue for supporters, who had already seen the likes of Sven Botman and Alexander Isak arrive that summer. It was a much-needed lifeline for the now 20-year-old to get his career back on track, and the opportunity could arguably not have come at a more exciting project right now.
You can read the full story here.
Karius preparation
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe says he will hold a one-on-one with Loris Karius ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
The German keeper was not in the squad for the Liverpool game with Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka and Mark Gillespie on match day duty. Howe has openly acknowledged that he rotates his stoppers for games.
Karius was pictured in Milan, the home of his girlfriend, earlier this week but Howe has no doubts he will be ready if called upon. Howe was calm when asked about Karius today and said at the club's cup final media day: "I'd be speaking to all my players on a one-to-one basis.
You can read the full story here.
Willock latest
Joe Willock is facing a late fitness test ahead of the Carabao Cup final with Eddie Howe refusing to discount him from Sunday's Wembley showpiece.
The Newcastle United midfielder was missing in the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury in the draw at AFC Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's midfield options have already been boosted by the return of banned Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes who will walk straight back into the starting line-up.
Sean Longstaff is another likely starter while Howe will wait on Willock before deciding where to field Joelinton and assess youngster Elliot Anderson's chances on the big day.
You can read the full story here.
'No regrets' for Foster
Former Watford and Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Forster insists he has no regrets over turning down a move to Newcastle United earlier in the season. The ex-Premier League shot stopper was approached by the Magpies with a view to signing a short-term deal at St. James' park as Eddie Howe's side dealt with an injury crisis.
The Toon would sign former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius who is now in contention to start the Carabao Cup Final after Nick Pope was sent off against the Reds at the weekend. Martin Dubravka is cup-tied for the game against the Red Devils and Karl Darlow is currently on loan with Championship side Hull City.
That leaves Karius and Mark Gillespie among the contenders to fill in for Pope. Neither have played a competitive game in over two-years, which has seen pundits claim Manchester United have the advantage.
You can read the full story here.
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