MY ACCOUNT
Eddie Howe needs to get Newcastle’s attack firing again.
The Magpies have been superb under the 45-year-old this season but have hit a slump of late, primarily on the goalscoring front.
Failing to find the net in defeats to Liverpool in their last home outing and Manchester United in last weekend’s Carabao Cup final defeat, Howe’s men must now bounce back at Manchester City.
Ahead of the Tynesiders’ trip to the Etihad, we take a look at how the English boss can get his forwards back in form.
Recent slump
Newcastle have certainly enjoyed an impressive campaign thus far but their recent results have fallen short of the lofty standards they have set.
The Magpies have gone four games without a win in all competitions, scoring just twice in that run. In fact, they have netted only three times in their last seven league matches.
A league-leading defensive record of just 15 goals conceded has been the foundation of their top-four tilt but the team’s tally of 35 goals scored must improve if they are to earn a Champions League qualification spot.
Howe’s next challenge is to find a way to increase the potency of his side’s attack without compromising on their defensive solidity.
Callum’s confidence
Newcastle have not been this goal-shy all season, though.
After all, they have netted four times or more in a single game on four occasions in the Premier League, even putting five past Brentford at St James’ Park in October.
The clinical finishing of Callum Wilson was crucial to that cutting edge, as the Englishman notched six times in his first nine Premier League appearances of the season.
However, he has scored just once in his last eight league outings and that loss of form has coincided with the team’s goalscoring problems.
Keep Isak fit
Alexander Isak was Newcastle’s marquee summer signing but the club have largely had to mount their top-four challenge without him.
The Sweden international hit the ground running with two goals in his first three Premier League appearances, before a hamstring injury sidelined him from late September to January.
He has scored once in 194 league minutes since his return and has consistently looked dangerous, registering 1.85 shots on target per 90 in the competition — only Darwin Nunez and Erling Haaland have done so more frequently ahead of this gameweek.
If the 23-year-old striker can stay fit, using him alongside Wilson could prove a potent pairing on occasion or in the latter stages of games, while the competition for a single starting berth will surely raise both players’ games.
Missing Guimaraes
Isak’s return has not led to an immediate upturn in fortunes in front of goal and Howe, speaking after the recent 1-1 draw with West Ham, believes the absence of Bruno Guimaraes in midfield has had an effect.
He said: “Yes, we haven’t won the games in the last few that we would have liked, but it’s never going to be plain sailing. We were never going to win every game. It’s such a competitive league, the games are so difficult.
“I think we missed Bruno today but we were always going to miss Bruno because he’s so unique and slightly different.
“I do think our midfield players who played in his absence all played well. I don’t think it’s a criticism of them — I just think he’s irreplaceable. You’re going to miss him, and I think we missed his creative eye more than anything else.”
Ball-playing Bruno
Howe’s praise of his Brazilian midfield star is not unfounded.
In the Premier League, Guimaraes has attempted an impressive 0.71 through-balls and 3.27 passes into the penalty area per 90.
He even creates chances indirectly by earning free-kicks, winning 2.69 fouls per 90 — allowing Newcastle to capitalise on their strong set-piece threat and utilise Kieran Trippier’s wicked dead-ball deliveries.
Thankfully for the Magpies, the 25-year-old was able to start in the Carabao Cup final and his return should be a significant boost to the club’s top-four hopes.
With Guimaraes, Isak and Wilson all fit, Howe will hope he has all the pieces of the puzzle he needs to get his side’s attack back on song.
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