A round-up of the latest Newcastle United headlines on Thursday, February 16.
Champions League pressure is on ‘chasing teams’ and not Newcastle United
Louis Saha believes Newcastle United’s rivals should be the ones feeling the pressure in the Champions League race. As it stands, a slight dip in form has the Magpies clinging on to their top-four spot.
Newcastle are just two points above Tottenham Hotspur but do have a game in hand at West Ham United as their safety cushion. Liverpool, despite their recent woes, provide a stern test at St James’ Park this weekend and are buoyant after brushing aside local rivals Everton on Monday.
Many pundits are now predicting the Reds - sitting ninth in the table - to launch an assault on the Champions League spots. Liverpool and Chelsea are both competing for the title of biggest underachievers in 2022-23.
Premier League pre-season tour decision expected as USA tour mooted for Newcastle United
Newcastle United's pre-season plans could unfold next month following suggestions the Magpies are due to jet back to the United States this summer.
Chronicle Live understands Premier League chiefs are expected to firm up plans for summer participation across the pond after recent top-flight meetings saw Newcastle, Leeds, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea mooted for friendly games across the States. New Jersey, Philadelphia and Atlanta were all mentioned as potential venues - which would be a massive boost for United fans Stateside.
The Premier League have indicated confirmation for all the clubs mentioned will come soon - although with Leeds threatened by relegation, there is a question mark over their involvement in a top-flight backed tournament. For the first time in many years though, Newcastle can plan for pre-season knowing which division they will be in next season with 41 points in the bag.
Chris Waddle sends Newcastle United top-four and transfer warning after lack of goals
Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle says the Magpies still need a proven goalscorer despite Callum Wilson ending his goalscoring drought and Alexander Isak's arrival in the summer. The Toon have drawn five of their last six games but are still unbeaten in the top flight.
“Newcastle’s main problem at the minute is scoring goals and this is the big concern for getting top four in the Premier League. They just seem to have dried up at the minute,” Waddle told BETDAQ.
“Callum Wilson has done a great job for them but unfortunately for him he has been getting a lot of injuries. Alexander Isak has come in and is a great player, but he has had a couple of injuries already. It seems to happen with Newcastle centre-forwards a lot at the moment."
Tottenham Hotspur defender hopes Miguel Almiron ‘slackens off’ in Champions League race
Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is hoping Miguel Almiron’s goalscoring run dries up. Newcastle United were rescued by their Paraguayan at Bournemouth last weekend, whose first-half equaliser snatched a draw.
Goals were hard to come by for Almiron in his first three-and-a-half years as a Toon player. For context, the strike against the Cherries was his 10th of the season - more than half the 29-year-old’s all-time Premier League tally.
However, Almiron endured somewhat of a blip before bagging on the south coast. His equaliser versus Bournemouth ended a nine-game run without a goal across all competitions.
Bruno Guimaraes theory dismissed as Newcastle star responds to Magpies critics
Bruno Guimaraes' suspension until the Carabao Cup final is not the reason behind Newcastle United's recent indifferent form. That is the view of Magpies striker Callum Wilson, who feels it is down to the team as a whole to break down stubborn opponents and return to winning ways.
Eddie Howe's side remain unbeaten in the Premier League since August, but Saturday's draw at Bournemouth means United have now drawn five of their last six top-flight encounters. The emphatic victory at Leicester City on Boxing Day remains Newcastle's last success in the league, although the Magpies did win both legs of their semi-final tie with Southampton to book their Wembley date against Manchester United.
Guimaraes was dismissed in the second-leg victory over the Saints at St James' Park following a VAR review, ruling the midfielder out for three fixtures. The former Lyon star missed the successive 1-1 draws with West Ham and Bournemouth, and will also be absent for Saturday's clash with Liverpool.
Howe's post-Liverpool prediction proves spot on as Isak handed chance to replicate 'dream' showing
"I think we are getting closer but you need points." Those were the words ushered by Eddie Howe as he stood in the Anfield tunnel, deflated and disheartened after a Fabio Carvalho winner for Liverpool back in August. Little did the Newcastle United boss know that he was spot on with his assessment when it came to turning decent performances into results.
The Magpies have only tasted defeat once since suffering that last-gasp heartache on Merseyside, succumbing to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup after a host of first-team changes from Howe. Premier League form may have stuttered of late but Newcastle have still only failed to pick up points once in the top flight this term.
A win over Liverpool at St James' Park this weekend would essentially end the Reds' faint top four hopes, while simultaneously getting Newcastle's campaign firmly back on track. The man likely to be spearheading Newcastle's attack is already familiar with hurting the Reds.
The bargain £10.6m clause that could land World Cup star to take Newcastle to the next level
Paulo Dybala has been linked with Newcastle United after suggestions in Italy say he could quit AS Roma this summer.
The World Cup winner has cast doubt over his future by saying on the record he was "unsure" of his next move and that he "hoped" that Roma could qualify for the Champions League. The indication in Serie A is that Dybala, who signed from Juventus last summer for Jose Mourinho's team, could walk away if Roma don't make the top four.
Dybala has a release clause in his contract that means overseas clubs could sign him for just £10.6million. The Argentina star said: "I don't know what’ll happen at the end of the season. "I hope Roma play in the Champions League next year. The clause is between Roma and my representatives."
Sergio Agüero coy on Newcastle United's Champions League hopes as Liverpool and Chelsea struggle
Former Manchester City striker Sergio Agüero believes Chelsea have the best options to break into the Premier League top-four, with Liverpool not at the level of previous seasons. In fact, both aforementioned sides have struggled with consistency this season and are some way off the Premier League frontrunners.
Both sides have spent big since the summer, the Blues spending considerably more than the Reds, but they're nine and ten points adrift of Newcastle United in fourth place. Arsenal and Manchester City are the two favourites to finish in the top-four, while Manchester United and the Magpies have traded places in third and fourth in recent weeks.
However, both Newcastle and the Red Devils have targets on their back, with Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Fulham breathing down their necks. Nonetheless, Agüero doesn't believe you can rule out the two big spenders.
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