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ANTHONY ELANGA’S SWEDEN EXIT CASTS DOUBT ON NEWCASTLE VS MAN CITY

Newcastle's Anthony Elanga has withdrawn from the Sweden squad for "private reasons," casting doubt on his availability for the crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City this weekend.

Anthony Elanga’s Sweden exit casts doubt on Newcastle vs Man City
Anthony Elanga misses international duty again - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Anthony Elanga's withdrawal from the Sweden team this week and the uncertainty surrounding his availability for this weekend's match against Man City will be devastating to Newcastle United supporters.

The summer acquisition has had a difficult start at Newcastle United, failing to garner game time in recent weeks and failing to make the expected impression on the field.

Despite his evident skill, Anthony Elanga has not yet found his footing at Newcastle. However, this most recent development is all the more upsetting because Elanga has been a bright spot for Sweden throughout this international break.

Due to his early return to Newcastle, he will not be playing against Slovenia on Tuesday night as planned.

According to a press release from the Swedish national team (via Fotboll Skanalen), press manager Petra Thorén stated that Elanga had to leave international duty on Monday for "private reasons."

Elanga has withdrawn from Sweden duty twice for the same reason, the first time being in June of this year.

What specifically has happened to Elanga at this time, and how serious the situation is, are unknown. It is unclear if this will affect Eddie Howe's selection on Saturday, but it certainly does not seem good for Elanga's possible participation.

Elanga has stated that momentum is essential to his success at Newcastle, so it would be quite upsetting if he could not play after Sweden's strong showing over the weekend.

The fact that Elanga played on the left wing for Sweden rather than the right wing has been one of the main topics of discussion this week. It goes without saying that some have said he should now play for Newcastle.

We thought Elanga might fill that position in our projected starting lineup for Newcastle vs. Man City on Saturday. Even though that location is now in danger, Howe should still consider it going forward.

Given that results have not been going his way, the Newcastle manager needs to try new approaches, and someone like Elanga must contribute to that new approach.

He is a dynamic player with the ability to create things, and Newcastle is sorely lacking in that right now, particularly with Anthony Gordon out. Elanga must participate if he is free this weekend. Howe should bring him in as soon as possible if he is unavailable.

AARON RAMSDALE VS NICK POPE: THE GOALKEEPER WHO SOLVES NEWCASTLE'S PRESSING PROBLEM

Aaron Ramsdale showcased elite distribution, dissecting Everton's press with a crucial pass, leading to a goal chance. Eddie Howe praises the new dynamic Ramsdale brings over Nick Pope.

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Howe Praises Ramsdale's Footwork in Everton Victory

Newcastle United's victory was clear long before the 79th minute at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium.

The Newcastle fans in the corner were ecstatic. They were enjoying their hard-won Premier League away victory.

The Newcastle team was having fun on the field. Everton showed some fight, with Thierno Barry having a goal disallowed prior to Kieran Dewsbury-Hall scoring a consolation goal. Then, United took charge again and kept the ball for almost a minute, spreading play across the field before returning it to goalie Aaron Ramsdale.

The travelling fans were so pleased they could have started chanting 'ole' as Newcastle toyed with Everton. Many home fans had already left.

Ramsdale stood casually, his foot on the ball inside his penalty area. Everton pushed forward to press, with three midfielders pressuring Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimaraes. Barry moved towards Ramsdale, blocking the pass to Malick Thiaw.

The United goalie could have kicked the ball long towards Nick Woltemade, who is physically big, or passed left to Dan Burn, the safer option.

Instead, he rolled the ball forward and sent a perfect pass through Everton's midfield to Joe Willock, who was unmarked. That single, precise pass broke through the press and launched a United attack.

The attack almost resulted in a fifth goal. Willock exchanged passes with Woltemade and then moved towards the defence before passing to Jacob Ramsey on his left, whose shot was saved by Jordan Pickford. If the shot had scored, it would have been one of the best goals of the weekend.

Ramsdale showed what he brings to Newcastle in that moment. He may not be as good at stopping shots as Nick Pope, but his passing is better. Pope has many good traits, but beating the press with a through ball isn't one of them.

Nick and Aaron are goalies with different strengths, Eddie Howe said.

They are still good. Today, Aaron showed his good footwork and distributed the ball well.

Newcastle were often challenged by teams that press high, as they knew Pope didn't have the traits to help them build from the back like Ederson, Alisson, Pickford, or Raya. Ramsdale offers a different aspect to United's play.

Now, it seems like the No. 1 shirt is Ramsdale’s to keep. Howe did not say if Pope would have been dropped if he hadn't hurt his groin in training. Either way, Ramsdale took his chance.

He gets to play longer, playing against Spurs on Tuesday night. He also played against them earlier in the season in the Carabao Cup.

MALICK THIAW'S RECORD GOAL ENDS NEWCASTLE'S NINE-GAME AWAY CURSE

Newcastle ends a 9-game away drought with a dominant 4-1 win at Everton. Thiaw scores quickest PL goal, Miley shines in record victory.

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Thiaw, Miley Break Records in Crushing Everton Win

Newcastle fans, rejoice. The team finally snagged their first away win of the 2025-26 Premier League season, crushing Everton 4-1 at Hill Dickinson Stadium this past Saturday.

Before this game, things weren't pretty. Eddie Howe’s squad had not only failed to win on the road all season, but they’d also dropped their last three away games. This losing streak stretched back nine away matches—their worst since a 12-game slump between December 2015 and August 2017.

But this time, Newcastle came out firing, scoring in the first minute and dominating the game. By halftime, they were up 3-0.

Everton showed some life after the break. They had a goal called back before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored, but it wasn't enough to change the game.

From the jump, Newcastle was all over Everton. Anthony Elanga tested Jordan Pickford just 20 seconds in. From the corner that followed, Malick Thiaw scored after only 52 seconds—the quickest goal of the season, beating Phil Foden’s early strike against Leeds.

Lewis Miley set up the first goal and then scored one himself in the 25th minute. Everton couldn't clear the ball, Dan Burn blocked Tino Livramento's shot, and the ball landed right for Miley, who fired a left-footed shot that slipped past Pickford. This made Miley (at 19 years, 212 days) the second-youngest Newcastle player to both score and assist in a Premier League match.

Newcastle wasn't finished there. Elanga caused trouble on the right and passed to Nick Woltemade, who chipped the ball over Pickford. It was the first time since December 2018 (vs. Tottenham) that Everton had allowed three goals in the first half of a home game. David Moyes needed to shake things up.

He subbed in Charly Alcaraz at halftime, and Alcaraz almost scored when his shot hit the crossbar in the 53rd minute. Not long before, Iliman Ndiaye forced Aaron Ramsdale—who was starting his first league game for Newcastle with Nick Pope injured—to make a save.

But Newcastle struck again just before the hour mark. Lewis Hall sent in a great cross, and Thiaw headed it in for his second goal. He became the first Newcastle player to score two headers in a Premier League game since Georginio Wijnaldum against Norwich in October 2015.

Dewsbury-Hall scored for the second straight game, giving Everton a goal. He controlled a long pass and scored, but it was too late, as Newcastle cruised to their first away win of the season.

Everton vs. Newcastle: Key Stats

Malick Thiaw is the first player to score his first-ever Premier League goal in the opening minute of a match since Kenedy for Chelsea against Norwich in March 2016.

Thiaw's goal was the earliest home goal Everton has given up in the Premier League (52 seconds) since Diego Costa scored after 35 seconds for Chelsea in August 2014.

Thiaw's early goal was only the sixth scored from a corner in the opening minute of a Premier League match and the earliest since Leonardo Ulloa for Leicester against Newcastle in May 2015 (38 seconds).

Everton gave up 4+ goals in a Premier League home game for the first time since April 2023 (1-4 vs. Newcastle) and for the first time under David Moyes at home since November 2010 (1-4 vs. West Bromwich Albion).

This was Newcastle's biggest away win against a team that wasn't promoted since another 4-1 victory against Everton in April 2023.

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