Football writer Alex Keble assesses each Premier League club and their prospects for the 2024/25 season.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United fans may feel a bit pessimistic heading into the new season. Truth to be told, it’s been an awkward summer so far.
“I absolutely want to stay but it has to be right for me and the club,” Eddie Howe said recently following a shake-up of club operations above him.
“There’s no point in me saying I’m happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right. As a new team coming together we have to set our boundaries.”
Performance last season
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Spurs
TOT
|
38 | +13 | 66 |
| 6 |
Chelsea
CHE
|
38 | +14 | 63 |
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
FA Cup: Quarter-final
EFL Cup: Quarter-final
UEFA Champions League: Group stage
Last five seasons
| Season | League position |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 13th |
| 2020/21 | 12th |
| 2021/22 | 11th |
| 2022/23 | 4th |
| 2023/24 | 7th |
Best Premier League finish
Second place: 1995/96; 1996/97
See: More about Newcastle's history
Season aims
Injuries and suspensions significantly scuppered progress last season; nine players missed 20 or more matches. Better luck on that front might be enough to get back into Europe.
Certainly that is the goal, and Newcastle need to make up ground on Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in particular.
Key transfers
The sales of Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh, coupled with ongoing rumours about the futures of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak, don’t give the impression of a club on the up.
But there is a reported £100 million to spend before the deadline, with a right winger and a centre-back the priorities. Get both and keep their star players and the Newcastle of 2022/23 could return.
Newcastle's key transfers so far
| Player | Transfer Type | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Lloyd Kelly |  Transfer In |
AFC Bournemouth |
| Elliot Anderson |  Transfer Out |
Nott'm Forest |
| Odysseas Vlachodimos | Transfer In |
Nott'm Forest |
| Yankuba Minteh | Transfer Out |
Brighton |
| Lewis Hall | Transfer In |
Chelsea |
| William Osula | Transfer In |
Sheff Utd |
See: Clubs' summer 2024 transfers
Tactics
Howe’s football has an urgent and explosive quality, focusing on attacking transitions and a strong press limited predominantly to the middle third of the pitch.
That’s why you so often see Gordon, Isak, or Barnes set away into space by the brilliant Bruno Guimaraes – and also why, as the match stretches, they can be vulnerable the other way.
Injury report
| Player | Injury | Latest update |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Targett | Hamstring | Details |
| Sven Botman | Knee | Details |
| Lewis Miley | Back | Details |
| Jamaal Lascelles | Knee | Details |
| Callum Wilson | Back | - |
Pre-season results and fixtures
20 July Newcastle 3-1 Unterhaching Report
27 July Hull City 0-2 Newcastle Report
31 July Urawa Red Diamonds 1-4 Newcastle Report
3 Aug Yokohama F Marinos 2-0 Newcastle Report
9 Aug v Girona (H) Details
10 Aug v Stade Brestois (H) Details
Best XI (4-3-3)
Nick Pope; Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn; Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Miguel Almiron, Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon
Opening PL fixtures
Kits
See: More details at Newcastle's online store