A look at the latest Newcastle United headlines on Sunday, 5 February.
Sean Longstaff proving 'surplus to requirement' claim wrong with Newcastle form
Sean Longstaff continued his fine run of form for Newcastle United this season setting up Callum Wilson for the opener against West Ham United. Jamie Redknapp has heaped praise on the Magpies midfielder for adding goals to his game in recent weeks and is backing him to add more to his tally, while proving the doubters wrong.
Once dubbed expendable under previous regimes, Longstaff has gone from strength to strength under Eddie Howe. The Magpies academy graduate has nailed down his place in the starting XI and looks undroppable in his current run of form.
Redknapp told Sky Sports: "You’ve only got to look at Eddie Howe, he gets younger by the day. He’s a man that’s sleeping well at night, he’s very happy with the players, it’s a dream for him since he’s gone there, they’re in cup finals and he’s bringing the best out of players."
Why Lucas Paqueta move to Newcastle United never materialised despite 'come and get me' plea
Lucas Paqueta and his agent were open to a move to Newcastle United in the summer when it became obvious his time at Lyon was coming to an end.
But with Eddie Howe in need of a forward, Newcastle looked elsewhere towards the end of the summer window to leave West Ham to the 25-year-old Brazil star. Indeed, as the deal for Alexander Isak was going through in late August, the former Flamengo and AC Milan player was already making his way to London to complete his £51million switch to the London Stadium.
As "come and get me" pleas go, Paqueta went as far as he could at the end of last season by taking a tour of the city with close pal and even donning a Newcastle kit in Bruno Guimaraes' garden for an end of term kickabout. But even in May, Lucas was not high on Eddie Howe's list with the Toon boss content with his midfield options and looking to improve other areas of his team's spine.
Anthony Gordon has just given Newcastle a glimpse of the future and what Declan Rice told him
It felt like a glimpse of the future. Anthony Gordon may have only been on the field for 21 minutes, but the substitute made quite an impression on his Newcastle United debut in the 1-1 draw against West Ham on Saturday night.
It said it all that even the mere sight of Gordon receiving his final instructions from Eddie Howe on the touchline at St James' Park gave the crowd a lift before the forward received a huge cheer and had his name sung by the Gallowgate End when he replaced Allan Saint-Maximin in the second half. It was just what Newcastle needed and the last thing West Ham wanted at a time when the Hammers were pinned back in their own half.
To paraphrase the words Declan Rice uttered to Gordon, when the pair crossed paths in the interview area after the game, it was like the rapid youngster had a jetpack on his back when he entered the field. At a time when Newcastle needed to up the pace, Gordon demanded the ball and got his side moving.
Newcastle United chiefs get glimpse of incredible superstar who could transform Eddie Howe's side
As Newcastle United stuck the ball beyond Lukasz Fabianski for the second time inside three minutes, it looked as though West Ham were in for a very long evening on Tyneside and an even longer trip back to east London.
Credit must be given to David Moyes' side for the manner in which they fought back after a disastrous start to Saturday's late kick-off. But one man deserves the praise more than most. His name is Declan Rice.
There was not a single blade of grass the West Ham captain failed to cover under the St James' Park lights. Rice gave Newcastle no time to dwell or dawdle on the ball, was extremely positive in possession and generally just looks a step above the rest of his Hammers team-mates.
Ex-Magpies defender Jose Enrique reveals which Newcastle United player deserves 'a special mention'
Former Magpies full-back Jose Enrique has hailed Newcastle United shot stopper Nick Pope as "fantastic".
Arriving from Burnley last summer for around £10m after the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, Pope has been one of the signings of the season.
The 30-year-old England international has been a revelation between the sticks for Newcastle this term and even managed to pick up his second Premier League Save of the Month award recently for his stunning stop against Crystal Palace to deny Jean Philippe-Mateta.
'Mentally tired' Newcastle United must use ideal options to refresh goalscoring threat
I know, I know. We Geordies have so much for which to be grateful. League Cup finalists at Wembley, tucked up in a Champions League place, the best defensive record in the Premier League, and the least defeats of everyone.
And we are well chuffed after previous excruciating seasons under Mike Ashley and his hired hands. It is just that if we accept one set of stats which underline United's vast improvement then we must also accept another.
And it is a worrying fact that United's last five league results read: West Ham (h) 1-1, Crystal Palace (a) 0-0, Fulham (h) 1-0, Arsenal (a) 0-0, Leeds (h) 0-0. That is seven points gathered out of 15, just under half those on offer claimed which is a very average return for a team placed as highly as Newcastle.
Our 48-page Carabao Cup final special is available to pre-order now! Click HERE to get your copy as Newcastle United prepare for a historic day out at Wembley. Also available to purchase through local participating retailers from February 15.
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Alexander Isak must be the man to replace huge Bruno Guimaraes void at Newcastle United in February
