Sutton's predictions: Newcastle v Brightonpublished at 08:02 BST
08:02 BST
Newcastle still need a point or two to make sure of their Premier League survival, which is not something anyone expected to be saying about them come the start of May.
I do think the Magpies have enough points already - they have 42 and the most third-bottom Tottenham can get is 46 - but I also don't expect them to add to their tally here.
Brighton are on a roll and look strong candidates for sixth place and European football.
I am backing them to win and for Danny Welbeck to notch again for the Seagulls and finish the season as the top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League. He already has 13 goals this season, two more than Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa and Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Leeds.
Newcastle v Brighton: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:28 BST 1 May
19:28 BST 1 May
Chris Adams BBC Sport journalist
Newcastle United host Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday (15:00 BST) with the two teams in wildly contrasting form as the visitors push hard for a European spot.
Eddie Howe's Magpies are languishing in 14th having lost four league games on the bounce. January 2021, when Steve Bruce was at the helm, was the last time Newcastle lost five top-flight matches in a row.
Geordie chore
Since a goalless draw with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 January – when Newcastle were eighth – they have lost nine out of 12 in the Premier League; a tough watch for the Toon Army, who were dreaming of a Champions League quarter-final a little over seven weeks ago.
At St James' Park, they have registered just one win in their past six games – last month's impressive victory over Manchester United, which came despite playing the second half with 10 men.
A delegation of officials from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Newcastle's majority owners, flew to the North East for meetings this week and the club's dire form was said to be high on the agenda.
One worrying trend for Howe to address is his side's inability to hold on to a lead. Twice last month – at Crystal Palace and in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland – Newcastle lost the game despite going ahead.
They have dropped a league-high 25 points from winning positions this season. To compound the situation, the Magpies have won just three points from losing positions this term, the joint fewest in the division.
Brighton breezy
A superb run of six wins in eight league games since being knocked out of the FA Cup on Valentine's Day has left Brighton dreaming of some romantic European getaways next season.
The Seagulls are currently sixth, trailing Aston Villa by eight points. Finishing sixth should mean qualification for the Europa League, but there is still an outside chance it could result in Champions League football.
How? It would require Villa to win the Europa League - they trail Nottingham Forest 1-0 after Thursday's semi-final first leg - and finish fifth in the league, the position they currently occupy.
Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Danny Welbeck's status as a cult hero in East Sussex is not in doubt. The Englishman will feel very hard done by if he isn't selected for World Cup duty by Thomas Tuchel after the best goalscoring season of his career.
Welbeck, 35, has notched 13 top-flight goals so far, including two in the reverse fixture in October, a game Brighton won 2-1. Only six players in the competition have scored more in a campaign while aged 34 or older.
One more for Welbeck would see him become Brighton's outright top scorer in a Premier League season. He is currently level with Glenn Murray, who bagged 13 in 2018-19.
But the former Manchester United and Arsenal man hasn't been alone in Fabian Hurzeler's side's climb the table. A strong supporting cast has helped the Seagulls score at least twice in each of their past four league games, something they last achieved over February and March 2025.
Howe under 'no illusions' after 'difficult' questions - but transfers now 'big focus'published at 16:20 BST 1 May
16:20 BST 1 May
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Eddie Howe had been here before.
It was just last year when the Newcastle United head coach delivered a presentation to the club's owners and executives at an annual summit at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.
Newcastle were on the cusp of ending a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy, by winning the League Cup, and on course to qualify for the Champions League at the time.
But this year's edition was a little different after Howe was asked "difficult" questions about his side's slide to 14th in the Premier League table.
Howe was upbeat on Friday as he reflected on the support he nonetheless felt at Thursday's meeting, but he repeatedly acknowledged how he needed to win games.
Following a torrid run of nine losses in 12 in the league, the head coach was "under no illusions" that results must improve in the final weeks of the campaign.
"Difficult runs force you to really re-evaluate everything and improve," he said at his news conference before the visit of Brighton.
"So, sometimes, the most disappointing moments are the times when you improve the most."
This summit had been in the diary for several months and was viewed as an opportunity to discuss infrastructure projects and recruitment plans, as well as the team's form.
With chief executive David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson in place, Howe feels Newcastle are in a better place to make smarter decisions and conclude deals more quickly than when they operated without a proper executive structure last summer.
The head coach also supports a shift in Newcastle's approach to transfers as the club widen their network, target younger signings and make better use of data.
Although Howe cautioned against signing "too many players," the squad will clearly look very different next season.
"Evolution, change and where the team goes is really exciting," he added.
"Because with some really smart additions, some really good recruitment decisions, you can improve really quickly - as we have seen teams do from last year to this year in the Premier League.
"Recruitment becomes the big focus and making sure we get that right."
The squad is 'clearly not strong enough'published at 12:46 BST 1 May
12:46 BST 1 May
Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey says the Magpies will not be sucked into a relegation battle - but admits their league position is "not good".
Eddie Howe's side are eight points clear of the bottom three with four Premier League games remaining.
Howey told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I don't think we'll be in a relegation battle but, ultimately, where they are in the league is not good considering where they have been in the league over the past couple of seasons.
"While I thought it was a decent squad it's just clearly not strong enough for them to be competing on all fronts."
Newcastle supporter Anas added: "I think we'll be OK but one more win will allow us just to breathe a bit more easily and put this season to bed."
Howe on Gordon's fitness, 'constructive' ownership meetings and Brightonpublished at 10:32 BST 1 May
10:32 BST 1 May
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at St James' Park (15:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Howe said a late call will be made on Anthony Gordon, who has missed the past two matches with a hip problem: "He did part of a session on Wednesday. It was great to see him back and on the pitch. He's a player of huge quality and one we've missed. We'll make an assessment on his fitness closer to the game after seeing how he gets through today."
Howe was asked about an interview given by Yoane Wissa in which the striker admitted he "didn't wait the proper time" when returning from his early-season injury: "Yoane's only issue has been the injury he suffered [in September] and that he hadn't trained before then. When he returned he wasn't physically able to deliver the quality of performance he traditionally has done in the Premier League. There's no doubting the quality of the player, but can we get him in a physical condition to deliver his best performances before the end of the season? That's been the challenge."
More on Wissa's form: "Since we've returned to full-team training we've seen a big lift in his performances because trying to get him fit with small numbers in training sessions is tough. As long as he continues to show that upward trajectory, we'll see the very best of him in the future."
When asked about this week's meeting with the club's owners and hierarchy, Howe said: "It was constructive - good meetings. They clearly care so much about the club and the long-term planning going on at a lot of levels shows there is exciting times ahead for the club, regardless of what happens short term. The long-term vision is clearly there."
Asked whether he felt support personally after the meeting, Howe said: "Yeah - no change in terms of the support, the infrastructure or how people are working. I was pleased by the level of support given to me but, of course, I'm still understanding of how football works and that we need results."
On clarity over his future: "I've never needed clarity. I'm here, working and committed. That won't change. Obviously, the football club has to do what it needs to do. It has to see we're going in the right direction, there's a positive feeling and that we're fighting on all fronts to try to get results. I'm under no illusions the club needs results."
Looking forward to Saturday's game, Howe said: "We need a win, the positive that winnings brings and to keep the level of performance we had against Arsenal. We need to back that up at home. Our home form has not been good enough so a lot is riding on this weekend for us."
On the Seagulls: "We've had some defeats against them recently, mostly in very tight games. I don't think we can look back. We need to look forward and use those past disappointments as motivations for the game."
Hit play above to hear more from Howe speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck and Look North's Nisha Joshi, or listen on BBC Sounds here
It highlighted how separate and different these investments are. There had not even been talk of business collaboration previously.
Senior figures at Newcastle were informed the pullout did not affect the club, however, and they have not seen anything that has changed regarding the PIF's commitment. The fund are still viewed as being engaged.
Newcastle's hierarchy speak to the PIF every day and chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and a Saudi delegation are currently in the North East for an annual club summit at Matfen Hall.
A major capital investment is in the pipeline with an announcement expected to come down the line regarding plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground, which would underline the owners' backing.
Those at the top, including minority stakeholder Jamie Reuben, will hold additional discussions this week about the future of St James' Park, as Newcastle look to bridge a huge revenue gap on the Premier League's highest-earning clubs in the long run.
The off-site has also been regarded as a timely opportunity to analyse what has gone wrong during Newcastle's bruising season, talk about recruitment plans and plot how the Magpies are going to go about bouncing back.
Woltemade signing 'Howe's undoing' as fans discuss the forwardpublished at 09:51 BST 30 April
09:51 BST 30 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on how you think Nick Woltemade should be used by Eddie Howe.
Here are some of your comments:
Phil: I think he should be up front. He was doing really well to begin with. Seems it goes back to the unfortunate own goal against Sunderland that was the catalyst for changing his position, but he isn't the first or last striker to get an own goal. I want him up front and scoring goals.
Richard: This isn't rocket science. I'm old enough to remember "Beardo in the hole" and how he made Andy Cole a goalscoring record-breaker. If you want to get the best out of Big Nic you'll need to play a striker ahead of him and cover in midfield behind him. He's a very talented player but utilising a 10 like him means either a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1. If done right and thoroughly practised (Eddie Howe trademark) then a 10 like Nic could be lethal and a fantastic alternative system to the standard 4-3-3.
Richie: I agree with Charlotte [Newcastle fan writer], Woltemade has shown he's an excellent footballer. The counter-argument though, is that we don't see training, we don't know how the players perform outside of matchdays. Eddie and his team do and it's pretty evident from recent team selection that they don't feel either Woltemade or Wissa are what we need up front. That's a damning indictment on the recruitment. Unfortunately, we folded under pressure from a certain Swedish fella and then bought in haste. We should have made said Swede sit on the bench, played Osula until he stopped sulking, and made plans calmly to replace in January. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Hope we do a better job with the big overhaul this summer.
Phil: The main problem for Woltemade and Howe is they don't have wingers who can effectively play the way his formation is set out. If we want to get the most out of Big Nic in the current 4-3-3 set-up, we need to have the wingers who are chipping in behind the defence and with goals - this is only if he doesn't change his tactics. I think what will end up happening is Woltemade will be on fire at the World Cup for Germany as he is rested and they are playing to his strengths. I think this signing will be Howe's biggest undoing.
Gordon: Stick him up front in the reserves with a for sale sign on his back and cut our losses, if anyone will buy him of course!
Gossip: Goalkeepers Risser and Trafford on Magpies' radarpublished at 07:35 BST 30 April
07:35 BST 30 April
Newcastle are planning a rebuild this summer with Lens' 21-year-old French goalkeeper Robin Risser and Manchester City and England stopper James Trafford, being considered for the number one spot. (i paper - subscription required), external
Newcastle braced for intense transfer summerpublished at 10:49 BST 29 April
10:49 BST 29 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
As intense as last summer's transfer window was for Newcastle, there could be even more transfer activity in the coming months as such a rebuild is going to require smart trading, given the financial rules in place.
A theory has been put forward externally that Newcastle would benefit from dropping out of European football, as it would enable the club to spend up to 85% of their football-related revenue and net profit/loss from player sales under the Premier League's new squad cost regulations, as opposed to 70% for those competing in Uefa's competitions.
But that isn't the view inside St James' Park because Uefa's football earnings rule runs over a three-year period, so those accounts would still have to be submitted to European football's governing body, if Newcastle were to qualify the following season.
If Newcastle were to push against the guardrails this summer, they would be in danger of a breach down the line. Therefore, the need to raise funds to reinvest is crucial, as the club look to learn from last summer's lessons, widen their recruitment network and adopt an even more data-informed approach.
Such a shift to a more strategic trading model will not necessarily come as news to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle's majority owners, who the club's hierarchy speak to every day.
But chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan's latest visit to Newcastle feels significant, particularly at a time when a number of other PIF investments are being scaled back.
Senior club figures believe the fund remains engaged, with a substantial capital investment in the pipeline.
Anderson sees improvement to build uponpublished at 08:38 BST 29 April
08:38 BST 29 April
Image source, Getty Images
Former Newcastle United defender John Anderson feels the Magpies showed improvement against Arsenal - but there is still work to be done.
"The thing about us is when we're at our very best, we play with pace, with high intensity, we close opposition down,£ Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"As soon as we drop below that, against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace that wasn't there, but I thought it was better against Arsenal. Was it where it has been in the past? No. But there was an improvement.
"We can take that forward against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend. We may well see another improved performance.
"The problem is we're not creating a great deal of chances or goals. From our point of view I think the goal, as good a strike as it was, was poor because we didn't learn from it."
Newcastle and Aston Villa are interested in signing Maxi Araujo, 26, from Sporting, with the Uruguay international able to play left-back and on the left wing. (Sport Witness), external
What's gone wrong at Newcastle?published at 18:04 BST 28 April
18:04 BST 28 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Reuters
Newcastle United were about to make history when the club's owners and executives conveyed for their annual summit at Matfen Hall last year.
It was February 2025 and head coach Eddie Howe was on the cusp on ending the Magpies' seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the League Cup. He also had his side sitting in fifth place in the Premier League and on track to qualify for the Champions League.
An almighty bar had been set going into this season, but Newcastle now find themselves in the bottom half.
So what has gone wrong?
Like anything, even when Newcastle were at their best under Howe, there is not a single reason.
Some issues can be traced back to last summer's turbulent window.
Brentford and Bournemouth, who are both above Newcastle in the table, have rebuilt and improved following the departures of several key players last summer.
But Newcastle are still feeling Alexander Isak's absence seven months after the striker pushed to join Liverpool on deadline day.
Of those signings Newcastle made, at a considerable cost, only defender Malick Thiaw has been an unquestioned success in his first season and too many who were already at the club have regressed.
The squad has been stretched - they were still technically fighting on three fronts as recently as last month - and it is only in recent weeks that Howe has had the luxury of extended training time with his players.
There were one or two signs of improvement against Arsenal at the weekend, but the fact remains Newcastle have only won three league games since mid-January.
Too often have you not known what you are going to get with this fragile side, even before uncertainty appeared to grip one or two individuals, whose futures look to be away from the club.
Newcastle's inability to build on openers and their vulnerability at the back means they have thrown away more points from winning positions (25) and conceded more late goals (19) than any other team in the Premier League.
Those are sobering statistics for any manager, regardless of what he has done previously, and Howe looks like someone who has been frantically searching for a solution.
While the system and substitutions have become a little predictable, Howe's team selection has been anything but in recent weeks as he looks to find a winning formula.
Why don't Magpies use Woltemade properly?published at 14:47 BST 28 April
14:47 BST 28 April
Charlotte Robson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Come on now. Let's play our tall German man up front. The season is basically over. The stakes are reasonably low. Give it another chance?
Much is being made of Nick Woltemade and how he fits into Newcastle's system. That sort of chatter, I think, is all well and good if he was a sort of bargain bin find or an academy graduate or something, but we paid upwards of £70m for this guy less than a year ago. We did that for him to come to the club as a centre forward.
For some reason, Woltemade has split opinion - a little in the fanbase but more so in the local media. I can't really understand it. An argument is made that we aren't able to score goals, and that we lost that element of our game last year with Alexander Isak's departure. I'd hold that argument in a little more reverence if Woltemade hadn't scored about six goals in his first 10 games for us. He is a proven goalscorer for Newcastle United.
I would also give more space to this argument if things were going swimmingly for Newcastle United this season. But they are not. I understand that we have a type of football that we want to be playing; a high press, with intensity. OK - a noble aim. But if it isn't really working, and we've got some space to explore ways in which to make it work, including using the £70m centre forward as a centre forward and adjusting how we play to allow for his natural fluidity in that position, then I think there is an obligation to try.
Woltemade had a little joy at the weekend coming on and playing a sort of number 10 position, but he wasn't on for long and ultimately that's not where he should be playing, so it is perhaps a moot point. He is, objectively, an excellent football player. We should be excited about that, and playing to his strengths.
Will recruitment cost Howe his job? published at 11:47 BST 28 April
11:47 BST 28 April
Media caption,
Newcastle's decline in the second part of the season means they are set to end this campaign in the bottom half of the table.
So with no European football secured, questions are being asked of manager Eddie Howe and whether he should be looking over his shoulder this summer.
"It does feel like Howe may be on his way out in the summer," ESPN's Mark Ogden told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But I think Newcastle will live to regret that.
"He's the sane and calm voice in that club that they need, but the mood has changed among the fans and they have become frustrated.
"I don't think Howe is getting the benefit of the doubt for what happened last summer. The Alexander Isak situation was beyond his control and they lost their sporting director. They have had all types of upheaval.
"Howe is a manager who likes to be in control and although he's not totally in control of recruitment, they brought players in late and that weren't suited to the club. They've also had injuries.
"I think he's a really good manager but I do fear for Eddie Howe."
Media caption,
The Magpies are still reeling from a poor summer transfer window where they are failing to see much of a return from a £100m-plus net recruitment drive that Howe was heavily involved in.
"If there is to be a criticism of Newcastle then it is their recruitment in the summer because it has been particularly poor," added Chris Sutton. "They spent the best part of £250m and the likes of Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have all been on the periphery.
"The centre-forwards, who were brought in to replace Isak, just haven't fired. They've got eight goals between them and they spent a fortune on them.
"Howe's tried to use Nick Woltemade in a midfield role which doesn't suit him either. He doesn't fit into Howe's team because he doesn't make those runs in from behind and he's not mobile."
Howe 'looking forward' to summit - and 'mitigations' must be consideredpublished at 11:45 BST 28 April
11:45 BST 28 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Matfen Hall is a little different to St James' Park.
But it is here - away from prying eyes - where Newcastle United's owners and executives are convening this week to plot the club's future.
The build-up to this latest summit has garnered plenty of attention, but senior figures have repeatedly stressed the annual get-together is not out of the norm.
It has always been looked upon as an opportunity for those at the top to discuss infrastructure projects and recruitment plans.
This time, it has also been regarded as a timely occasion to talk about Newcastle's slide to 14th place in the Premier League and how the club will go about bouncing back.
Rather than reacting emotionally, the view internally remains that Newcastle need to respond rationally with the help of cold, thorough analysis.
So what could be on the agenda?
Eddie Howe is among the leading figures who will give his perspective, with his future coming under increased scrutiny following a bruising run of nine defeats in 12 league games.
He has admitted this year's summit will be "slightly harder", but stressed he is looking forward to the rare opportunity to address chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and minority owner Jamie Reuben in person.
"I'm sure there will be conversations on the team and how we have performed," he said. "I sort of welcome that, to a degree."
This campaign has been his most testing yet, which is saying something. Only relegated Burnley and Wolves have lost more Premier League games than Newcastle.
There is some mitigation, though.
Newcastle have played 54 matches, which is uncharted territory. Their already-drained side has been knocked back by injuries to influential players at key moments.
The club is still also feeling the effects of a turbulent transfer window last summer, having operated without a chief executive and sporting director during a pivotal trading period.
They missed out on a host of top transfer targets, including Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, Benjamin Sesko and James Trafford, and have seen little return from a £100m-plus net recruitment drive that Howe was heavily involved in.
Finally, having decided to hold firm for so long, Newcastle ultimately buckled and sold Alexander Isak on deadline day.
'Lack of direction' means Magpies 'not safe' - fanspublished at 09:43 BST 28 April
09:43 BST 28 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on the possibility of Newcastle joining the relegation scrap in the Premier League; as they sit eight points above the drop zone with four games remaining.
Here are some of your comments:
Richard: I fully expect Newcastle to end up in the relegation fight as we've been shocking recently.
Craig: We won't get dragged into anything. Our poor performances across the entire season have left us already worrying about relegation. It's intensely obvious that Eddie Howe's time is over, and delaying doing anything about it until the summer is going to make this one another badly planned summer that'll hurt us again next year.
Albi: We are not safe. Failure to pick up a single point from the remaining games and then three wins from Tottenham's last four remaining games will sink us. It's unlikely but possible. The West Ham game at home is anything but a banker.
Tom: Yes - there's total lack of direction from coaches and effort from so-called players.
David: Most certainly we are in the relegation dog fight. They are in free fall, have a total lack of confidence and some players in the squad are believing all the hype about big money moves and have totally switched off. We have seen this before and Eddie needs to only select those players who are going to run through brick walls for him in the remaining games.
Tom: Yes, Newcastle United can get relegated this season. We need four points to be absolutely safe. If we build on the performance against Arsenal we should be OK. But we are relying on Tottenham to be as abysmal as they have been all season. The Arsenal match proved yet again how important Bruno Guimaraes is to the team. We look a different team with him playing.
Dave: I'm probably a bit pessimistic but yes I think we could be caught. I think normally 42 points was safe but this year, I can see both West Ham and Spurs reaching that target. Essentially, I think we need at least two more points to guarantee safety. Our form has been awful so I'm keeping my fingers crossed we can scrape out a couple of draws.
Adie: We just don't look like winning our remaining games this season, so relegation is a worry. Though I do think we're fortunate to already be on 42pts, which should be enough to stay up.
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A battle? How does Newcastle's run-in look?published at 09:43 BST 28 April
09:43 BST 28 April
Ciaran Kelly Newcastle United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Newcastle certainly cannot afford to ease off given the high stakes for those sides they are playing during the run-in.
First up is the visit of sixth-placed Brighton on Saturday before Newcastle travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest, who are in 16th.
Newcastle then host 17th-placed West Ham and finish the campaign with a trip to Craven Cottage to play Fulham, who are still in the race for Europe.
Newcastle have already accumulated 42 points and would only need a maximum of five more to mathematically stay up if Tottenham Hotspur win all their remaining games and the other teams below Eddie Howe's side put a run together.
Given Spurs only recorded their first league win of 2026 against relegated Wolves last week, that feels an almighty ask for Roberto de Zerbi's men, who face Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton in their final four matches.
It is also worth pointing out that the table is so tight that Newcastle are as close to Brighton in sixth as they are to Spurs in 18th.
But this team still need a victory to lift the mood.
"We're looking at the fact we haven't won games," Howe said after the defeat at Arsenal. "It's too many games without positive results.
"We're looking at next week, trying to win a game, and trying to lift the feeling we currently have."
Gossip: Newcastle open to selling Wissa published at 07:36 BST 28 April
07:36 BST 28 April
Newcastle will explore selling DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa in the summer, less than a year after signing the 29-year-old for a fee rising to £55m. (Athletic - subscription required), external
