Your Newcastle United headlines for Wednesday, December 28.
Wood talks team spirit
Chris Wood has hailed the "character" in the Toon camp after they cemented their place in the Champions League places with a superb win over Leicester City.
The New Zealand international striker helped himself to his third goal of the season after blasting in from the spot against the Foxes. After climbing to second place in the table, he told ChronicleLive: "It shows the character of the lads in the group.
READ MORE: Eddie Howe's dressing room challenge at the King Power Stadium
"The staff were ready and raring to go but it's a big campaign and the second part of the season is going to be tough, it's a long one. We're only just over a third of the way through so it's going to take a lot of hard work.
"Leicester was a nice performance to get back on track in the league. It's all about getting mentally ready for the game which was a game between two good teams so it was about being prepared to take the second part of the season on and thankfully we were ready.
"It's all about the team and how we build and how we consistently get better. We came on so much from the Bournemouth performance last week. It's another step in the right direction, we just want to keep doing that."
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Clark reveals Howe trait
Ciaran Clark has revealed Eddie Howe regularly contacts him while on loan at Sheffield United. Newcastle are flying high in the Champions League places and Clark is almost certain to leave the club once his contract expires in May.
However, the 33-year-old disclosed how the Magpies’ manager has kept in touch throughout his loan spell. “Newcastle, I’ve not even really thought about it,” Clark said. “I signed a season-long loan and I’m trying to do my best to help the team.
"I have spoken to Eddie, just ringing up to see if everything was okay and to see how I was doing. How the family was. It was a nice call to be fair.
"He does look after you and make sure that you’re not forgotten about. I knew how the season was going to look at Newcastle. I could see the direction the club was moving in and what they were going to do with the squad. My main aim now is to get promoted.”
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Fernandez breaks silence
Reported Toon target Enzo Fernandez has spoken out over his future amid speculation he will swap Benfica for the Premier League in January. The Magpies are said to be keen on the Argentinian midfielder, 21, who won the Young Player of the Tournament at the 2022 World Cup.
Fernandez's performances both in Qatar and Portugal have alerted top clubs ahead of next month's transfer window. Newcastle are one of the teams in the mix, along with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Asked about his future and a potential Benfica exit while celebrating the World Cup win in Argentina, Fernandez told a crowd of fans: “I don't know anything about that. It's up to my agent, I don't want to get involved.
"I'm focused on Benfica, in a few days we have an important game. I have a flight at night to play in the game on Friday."
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Trippier believes... why shouldn't the fans?
Kieran Trippier says Newcastle players will keep their feet firmly on the ground after finding themselves involved in the conversation for the Premier League title this season.
For Trippier, who has been involved in title tilts with Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid, the full-back feels that the club are simply building for the years ahead. But as he approaches the one-year anniversary of the start of his Newcastle career he has told fans they should still dream big.
Trippier told ChronicleLive: '"I think I said it on the first day I signed, I want to help the club. I came when they were 19th in the league and got questioned about that, but I believed and have believed throughout my whole career.
"The fans are there to dream. That is what they pay all their hard-earned money to watch us and follow us for. They can dream, of course. As players, we need to be realistic and keep our feet on the ground."
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Longstaff suffers setback
Colchester United boss Matt Bloomfield says Matty Longstaff was 'in tears' after he suffered a serious knee injury in Colchester United's 1-0 victory at Gillingham on Boxing Day.
The Newcastle loanee was introduced in the 82nd minute but left the pitch on a stretcher deep into second-half stoppage time.
"Matty looks like he's sustained a serious knee injury. The first question he said to me as we went through was 'did we win?' and that sums him up," Bloomfield said via the Essex County Gazette.
Bloomfield added: "He's the most dedicated, caring kid that you'll meet, in terms of his football. He's had his hamstring since we've been in and it looks like he's done his knee, so I'm absolutely gutted for him.
""He's such a great kid - he's come on loan and he cares and I just feel really, really gutted for him. I hope it's not as bad as first feared but sometimes, the worst ones are. He's in tears inside and I couldn't feel for him any more than I do right now."
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