JUST IN: NEWCASTLE BOXING DAY SQUAD NEWS—NICK WOLTEMADE AND TONALI SET TO FACE MAN UTD
One week after a derby own-goal, £69m Nick Woltemade scores twice against Chelsea! Is the record signing back?
Newcastle totally crushed Chelsea for about 45 minutes, which had to be the Christmas gift Eddie Howe wanted most.
Three of his main guys—Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Nick Woltemade—suddenly looked like they had their mojo back after seeming tired when the team was struggling.
Things were getting worrying, but these three showed some real hunger.
Now, the question is, are they really back? Or will they just relax after that win, thinking they've done enough to make up for that embarrassing loss in the derby?
We'll see soon enough, as Newcastle wraps up a crazy 2025 with trips to Manchester United and Burnley. We'll be watching closely.
People were asking questions, like why did we even sign Woltemade? Yeah, he's a nice, eager young guy with lots going for him—great feet, a smart football mind, a good attitude, and he's tall.
But everyone agrees he's not super fast, doesn't have the strength to hold off defenders, and doesn't always push into the opponent's territory. Those are pretty important things for a striker.
Two of our legends, Alan Shearer and SuperMac, have pointed out these weaknesses. Some even wondered if he'd be better in another position.
So, a lot of people were surprised to see him tearing it up against Chelsea, just a week after that awful own goal against Sunderland.
This blond kid was always running into the box and really trying to press the Chelsea defense. And he got two goals after not scoring for a while.
Did Howe work his magic again, like he did with Joelinton, turning him from a bad striker into a great midfielder? Or like he did with Gordon, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, and Alexander Isak?
Or maybe Yoane Wissa scoring against Fulham made him realize that even though he's working hard, it's better than sitting on the bench all the time.
Either way, it doesn't matter. Howe or Wissa, a fairy godmother, or just luck—all the Newcastle fans who were singing his name just want Nick to keep playing well. And Wissa, get inspired too, and maybe we can save this wild season.
Eddie promised Woltemade, after spending a record £69m on him, that he'd build the team around him. That seemed like a bad idea, but maybe there's some hope now.
The fans really like Big Nick, and I get it. He's the kind of player you want to see succeed, and he's giving it his all.
But what about Gordon and Tonali? Gordon's been inconsistent, and Tonali's form had dropped off a cliff. Form is temporary, but class is permanent—so what was wrong? It was confusing, but he seems to be back. Anthony needs to play like that more often, though.
I know one good game isn't proof that things have changed. We need to see it against Manchester United on Boxing Day and then against Burnley to really put 2025 behind us.
Like the whole team, these star players are still trying to prove themselves. It's not easy to win back the fans after letting them down. If they can stay unbeaten in the next couple of away games, things might be different.
If we're wondering if Howe can turn Woltemade into a natural striker, can he please do the same with Anthony Elanga? He's been awful. He's fast but out of control. He doesn't produce anything, so he's lost all his confidence.
It's surprising that Elanga and Jacob Ramsey, who came from other Premier League clubs, have had a harder time fitting in than Woltemade and Malick Thiaw, who came from other countries.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
