Here are your Newcastle United evening headlines on Sunday, December 11.
Newcastle United 'identify next statement signing' as fresh links to World Cup star emerge
Chelsea winger and United States national team talisman Christian Pulisic, has emerged as a potential option for Newcastle United in the upcoming January transfer window and is viewed as possibly being the club’s “next statement signing”.
Pulisic, still only 24, has found himself largely out of favour under both the management of previous boss Thomas Tuchel, and the relaitvely recently appointed Graham Potter.
The former Dortmund man however is undoubtedly talented, with his threat in attack showcased in several impressive performances this World Cup for the United States as they progressed out of Group B, only to be defeated by the Netherlands in the Round of 16.With game-time limited at Stamford Bridge, the Blues would reportedly be open to selling and Pulisic, keen for regular minutes, would be keen on a move to the North East giants, with a fee of £40 million the speculated figure.
Should a move for Pulisic breakdown, the Magpies are monitoring Brighton and Hove Albion’s Leandro Trossard and Leeds United’s Jack Harrison as potential alternatives.
Alan Shearer details impact of Sunderland penalty miss after Harry Kane's England heartbreak
Newcastle United hero Alan Shearer, in his latest column with The Athletic, has cast his mind back to a crunch penalty that he saw saved late on in a Tyne-Wear Derby in 2000, drawing comparison with Harry Kane’s costly penalty miss last night which saw England bow out of the Qatar World Cup against France.
England’s hopes looked buried when Olivier Giroud headed home to regain the French lead in the 78 th minute, but with five minutes remaining of normal time, Gareth Southgate’s side were handed a life-line in the form of a second penalty, with Kane converting a first vigorously earlier in the second half.
The England captain stepped up to take the second, but a poor connection saw the spot kick sail high over the bar and England’s World Cup dreams come to an abrupt close.
Shearer knew this feeling all too well and referenced his decisive miss from 12-yards 22 years prior, stating: “When I was playing for Newcastle United, I missed a big penalty against Sunderland in similar style, hitting it at Thomas Sorensen, and it still haunts me.”
Newcastle United escape World Cup unscathed as England trio have their dreams dashed by France
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will be able to breathe a sigh of relief with all six of the club’s representatives at the ongoing Qatar World Cup now returning injury-free, fit, and ready to push for a top four finish in the second half of the Premier League season.
Fabian Schär was a having watched from the bench for Switzerland’s opening two group stage games, came into the starting XI for their pivotal and enthralling win against Serbia and kept his place in the line-up for their Round of 16 tie against Portugal who picked them apart in a humbling and impressive 6-1 victory.
Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson played their part for England in their journey to the quarter-finals where they narrowly fell short to a well-drilled France side, whilst Nick Pope, whose outstanding form for the Magpies was rightly rewarded with a call-up to the squad, failed to see a minute of action as deputised for former Sunderland hero, Jordan Pickford.
Trippier started the first group game, a blazing 6-2 victory against Iran in which Wilson grabbed an assist off of the bench, and the second in a calculated although uninspiring 0-0 draw against the USA, before seeing former Spurs teammate Kyle Walker replace him in the starting line-up for the final group game against Wales and the two knock-out fixtures.
Newcastle fan favourite Bruno Guimaraes, who joined the Magpies last January from Olympique Lyonnais, was limited to cameo appearances off the Brazil bench as they tasted penalty defeat against Croatia in the Quarters.
Latest recruit, 18-year-old Garang Kuol, who will link up with the Newcastle squad in January, saw minutes off the bench against France in Australia’s group opener and also came on with just under 20 minutes to go in the Socceroos’ knock-out clash with Argentina, helping his side claw one back just five minutes after his introduction.
Whilst it wasn’t the World Cup many of the Newcastle contingent would have hoped for, their return to club football will be only good news for Howe who will hope to build on an incredible first half of the season which sees them sat third in Premier League table.
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